Walking
I’m going to stay just a little longer with that terrible word: Exercise.
But since I believe that gyms provide a most unnatural way of exercising and are about the most evil invention ever (granted, they are helpful if you need to strengthen some specific parts of your body), you won’t ever get a recommendation for gym work from me.
Instead, I want to suggest something else entirely:
Walking.
Humans evolved as hunters and gatherers. Which means that walking (and sometimes running) are the most natural kinds of moving around. And walking is safer than running, for your joints and your heart, and in combination with dogs. Ahem.
So get up and walk – start today!
Now, I’m in the lucky position that I can actually walk to work. It’s a mere 2 km (a little more than a mile), and I do it twice every day, in about 17 minutes straight. In fact, I take a little detour on my way back to walk through a park which takes a couple of minutes more.
I’m also aware that I live in Germany and am very fortunate that there are lots and lots of public sidewalks, dirt roads and hiking paths freely available to the public. And in fact, most forests are open to the public, too, even if they are privately owned. They cannot be fenced in. So getting good walks here is easy.
Even so, I encourage you to find a route in your neighborhood that you can walk daily.
Daily! Yes, indeed.
It’s a nice addition to the little hourly dance I suggested last week, because it’ll get your body’s systems up and moving for a longer time, adding stamina.
Also, don’t use headphones during that walk.
Why not?
Because if you walk with your senses engaged in your surroundings, you are safer. And you reconnect to nature, even in town. You can probably see and hear birds, listen to the wind in trees and feel it on your skin. But you need to be aware to do so, and you won’t be if you’re shutting out the environment by listening to a book or music.
A walk is also a great time to daydream about your stories. I’ve found many a plot twist on my walks to and from work. It seems that moving your body can also jog that old brain.
If you’re out on a walk and you don’t take your smartphone – eeeek! – you can also think without being disturbed by anyone. And honestly, a 20 min break away from being online won’t cost you anything, but it may bring you some peace.
Reconnect with nature.
The best thing about daily walks? They reconnect you to the rhythm of nature. Yes, you might get wet once in a while because rain is part of that, but you’ll also experience the seasons.
Once you have found your route, you’ll notice little changes every day. Flowers that come and go, even if they are just weeds in the cracks. Different kinds of birds…. you might even learn to identify their calls.
I saw a wren sing for the first time in my life just a couple of weeks ago – on my walk to work. I stopped for a minute or two to watch and listen. It’s a little moment of joy that I hold in my memories.
A little walking can give you a lot.
So if you’re like me and you sit at the computer way too much every day, do consider setting aside 20 or 30 minutes for a walk every day. You don’t need a dog for that. And you could even make it a “worthwhile” tour by getting groceries or taking pictures or using it as your plotting time. Just allow yourself to be aware of nature while you do.
And if you think you can’t… well, here’s some tapping to make it easier for you.
Even though I live in a place that doesn’t let me enjoy a walk, I’m totally okay the way I am, and I give myself permission to explore anyway.
Even though it feels dangerous to leave the house and walk along the lane without a sidewalk, I’m totally okay the way I am, and I give myself permission to do it carefully and with lots of common sense.
Even though I don’t really want to get up and move, and taking half an hour out of my day seems like too much, I’m totally okay the way I am, and I now choose to experiment with that for a couple of days.
Your Turn:
What do you think about regular walks?
Do you have a good route to walk?
What happened while you were tapping?
And finally – what are you creating right now?
Please share in a comment.
Image Source: F. Moebius
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