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Our Family Awe Walks: How a Simple Trail Two Blocks From Home Is Teaching Us Presence, Wonder, and a Slower Way to Live
If you asked me what my favorite part of motherhood is right now, I’d tell you about our walks — the ones me, Matt, and Margaux take every weekday afternoon and every weekend morning. It’s become our family rhythm, our daily reset, our tiny ritual that weaves everything together: movement, connection, curiosity, and a sense of wonder we didn’t realize we needed.
The trail starts just two blocks from our home — a simple dirt path running through our small, close-knit community. But somehow, this little trail has become the most magical part of our day. Research shows that “awe walks” can lower stress, boost mood, reduce inflammation, and help us feel more connected to the world around us. What Margaux sees naturally — every horse, every leaf, every ray of sun — truly benefits us, too.
The Beauty of a Neighborhood Trail
Our community trail isn’t elaborate. It’s humble, familiar, and incredibly grounding. Neighbors wave, familiar dogs trot past, and families stop to chat. It’s one of those rare places where you truly know your neighbors, where people look up, smile, and connect. Walking here makes us feel like we’re part of something meaningful.
The Chicken-Feeding Stop We Never Miss
A few homes along the trail have their coops tucked right against the path. One neighbor keeps a little gumball-style machine filled with chicken feed — a brilliant idea for the kids. We bring quarters every time. Margaux fills her tiny hands with feed, giggles at the rooster who rushes over first, and insists on “just one more handful.” These aren’t just chickens to her. They’re her chickens.
The Horses — All With Names She Invented
The trail passes behind several homes with horses who graze right by the fence. The owners keep their yards open and visible, intentionally welcoming anyone who walks by. Margaux has named each horse — the white one with gentle eyes, the caramel one who trots over, the dark shy one lingering in the back. She narrates imaginary lives for them as we walk.
The Rope Swings She Treats Like a Theme Park
Near the end of the trail is a wide, open lot with two rope swings hanging from enormous trees. The neighbors keep the lot empty just so the kids can play. Before the walk: she must swing. After the walk: she must swing again. She says it’s “the best part of the walk,” other than feeding the chickens, of course.
The Science Behind Our Awe Walks
Studies show that awe walks — intentional walks done with curiosity and slowed awareness — can:
– lower cortisol
– reduce stress-related inflammation
– improve mood and emotional stability
– boost creativity
– enhance sleep quality
– increase feelings of connection and gratitude
Our little trail, and the way Margaux leads us through it, naturally creates the perfect conditions for awe. She notices everything we would normally overlook — a wildflower, a bug path, a cloud that looks like a dolphin. Her noticing becomes our noticing.
Why These Walks Mean So Much to Me
This trail has become a gentle sanctuary for us — a place where we step out of our heads and into our life. On these walks, I learn how to breathe deeper, stay present, talk less, listen more, see beauty in small things, and let my daughter lead. We’ve created a rhythm I hope she remembers forever.
This Is the Life We’re Learning to Live
It’s easy to overlook what’s right in front of us. But Margaux is teaching us that magic isn’t somewhere far away. It’s everywhere — if you slow down long enough to see it. Our daily awe walks are the proof. A simple trail. Chickens. Horses. Rope swings. A little girl with enormous curiosity. Two parents learning how to live slower, softer, and more present — because she shows us how.