We just had one of the nicest days this spring and it wasn’t a weekday!

I went for a walk in the park to test out my new pedometer and determine if I can manage an upcoming 5K walk for charity—someone told me 5K amounts to about 3 miles—so off I went to my normal stomping grounds to test out whether my glutes have still got it. It was a beautiful, sunny day, but it was still only 49 degrees so I expected to be alone on the trail. I was wrong (I don’t say that often, so someone should record that). The park was packed.

It makes sense. There are woefully few places we can go for free to people-watch, say hello, bring the family or go alone. It’s exercise without gym fees. It’s a barbecue grill without upcharge or gratuity. It’s a place to lay a blanket for reading or picnicking, a place to throw a Frisbee to your faithful companion or a place to simply sit and write on a pad or a laptop.

But as I began my walk I fell into my old habit. I go to the park to clear my head. It’s very difficult for me to shut my mind off at home. When I’m walking the park, something about the clean air freshens my psyche and allows me to feel close to God in a way I have difficulty at home. Something about the repetitive stride, the deer hiding behind the trees and the birds singing gives me a jolt of that “you-can-do-anything”—juice I so desperately need.

Do you have a special place that spurs your creativity or brings you particular inner peace?