Excerpt: chapters

I start out through the gate. it is a wrought iron gate with flourishes and the wall is made of stone. there are bushes along the wall. I can smell their leaves. I am on the path.
I walk steadily and try to keep my mind clear. I feel my body as it walks. I try not to think. just feel. I breathe and I can feel my breath as it courses through and nourishes my body. I feel good. I feel light. I am ready for this. I am not tired. I slept well. a deep and dreamless sleep. my feet feel good in my sandals. I have tightened the straps of velcro so that they are snug on my feet. I don't want blisters. I have lightweight socks in my backpack if I need them.
also bandaids. I am supposed to walk barefoot. but not today. Not my first day. I will work my way towards that. I might try taking off my sandals here and there to see how it feels. to get used to it. It is not a bad temperature today. it is a good thing that i have started out early. The sun has been up for awhile. It is eight oclock. it will be a warm day. around 85 or so degrees. I have an extra shirt to change into if I get to sweaty.
I have my insect repellent and my sun screen. I don't like to wear hats. My hair feels good as it lifts off my neck in the slight breeze. the breeze is welcome but probably wont last.