Take a Walk

The ability to enjoy a walk seems to be a learned behavior that comes with age. When we are growing up it seems walking does not exist. We either run around in play, ride a bike to a destination, or are driven to some faraway place. Walking to walk is not normally in our arsenal of activity. As we age “the walk” gains allure. It gains substantial appeal and purpose in our lives. A walk becomes part of habit and a way to break up the day. The walk no longer needs any sort of destination. The journey is in walking out of our home and we find the destination in our minds— along the way. By taking a walk, we prime our creative and problem-solving instincts to go to work.

People in society seem to be glued to their screens. When they are not glued to their screens, the headphones go into their ears as they navigate the time between staring at their screens. I am guilty of using headphones at a high rate. As a society, it seems people are more and more used to constant feedback. Constant feedback with constant stimuli and information flowing into our minds. From screens to headphones, then back to screens we go. To get the most out of our walks we must do what seems to be contrary to societal norms. We must keep our phones in our pockets, our headphones at home, and enjoy the break. We must let our minds run free. We must hear the birds chirp, the leaves rustle in the wind, and get lost in our walk.

Walking is not a habit everyone has instilled. It is one that I personally do not have, but is one I will adopt. On the walks I do take I notice the benefits even though it is not a consistent habit in my own life. The more people I speak with that are either extremely successful or happy, oftentimes both, all seem to have incorporated walking into their daily schedule. A quick coffee and walk around the block to start a day. A stroll to the park at lunchtime. An evening walk to catch the sunset. Walks done intentionally present direct and tangible solutions to our lives. We are able to solve problems, come up with new ideas, and reset ourselves from the stresses we endure.

Life does not need to be full-speed all the time. We do not need to run or drive to any clear destination all the time. Sometimes it is best to slow down, take a stroll, and let our mind develop the destination while our bodies take the journey. Take the walk.