Walk on By

"Walking man walk.

Walk on by my door.

Well, any other man stops and talks but not the walking man.

He's the walking man,

born to walk,

walk on walking man.

Well now, would he have wings to fly?

Would he be free?

Golden wings against the sky,

Walking man, walk on by.

So long, walking man."

James Taylor

As I was calling out to my little grand puppy during my Sunday wanderings,

a gentleman happened by.

He's an older gentleman,

always walks with a stick

and comes to the pond no matter the weather.

I've seen him many times before..

this Walking Man.

He's not one to nod or smile or share the polite "hello"

as he crosses your path.

Always moving...not in a grouchy way...

Just seems to be on a solitary journey though the woods.

Well, on Sunday,

as I was trying to get Max to mind me,

to follow me along the path that leads away from the pond,

the walking man passed us by.

And as he passed he said,

"Those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

He never missed a step,

didn't pause or try and catch my eye.

Just shared this thought and kept on walking.

It's a funny thing.

I've made a few mistakes with people close to me these past few days.

A financial error that's caused a bit of trouble.

I stuck my nose in somewhere it didn't belong.

Nothing earth shattering, just enough to make me feel awful about what I did.

And I have the hardest time letting myself off the hook...

I tend to hold on to mistakes long after others have accepted an apology and offered forgiveness.

My "pond time" often helps me to let go, to catch my breath again and forgive myself.

It's a funny thing.

I wasn't really feeling it on Sunday. The letting go.

And then I heard those words...

So, thank you, Walking Man.

Whoever you are.

I'll do my best to hold on to that thought.

Sharing with Kathy and Friends

and Joining in with

Wednesdays Around the World