Today I packed up a kite, pen and pad, water bottle and dish, and bag of training treats for a walk with the dog. We went to the park and ran up and down the grass yard flying the heavy box kite with insufficient winds to hold it up. After realizing I had exhausted myself, I broke to water and feed the dog, while I reeled in the kite. I had let her off the leash since no one was around, and started treat training her to sit by my side and ignore the walkers and birds around the perimeter of the park.
I became to trust her enough to ponder taking off my glasses for the walk home. So, holding the leash taut, I put them in my jacket pocket. I let her pull only very gently, correcting every small lunge at something that wasn't conducive with the specific task we were completing: walking straight on the sidewalk. I stopped for road crossings and had her sit for minutes at a time, watching cars and being calm and in the moment.
I came across a beach ball I had noticed earlier on the walk to the park, and I decided to kick it home. Along with Albert, I accidentally started into a running pace, zigzaging along the sidewalk and kicking the ball down the hill.
When I got home, I felt completely exhausted and satisfied.
