| For the past several years I have struggled with | | | | walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of |
| getting (and staying) fit. Ok I admit it, the struggle | | | | no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk |
| has been longer than just a few years. As a kid, | | | | away from it. If one just keeps on walking, |
| instead of playing nicely with the girls, I fought with | | | | everything will be all right." Soren Kierkegaard |
| the neighborhood boys. I attempted to join their fun | | | | Even if our job is wonderful, our family is healthy and |
| and received new scars weekly in bloody games of | | | | our future seems bright, we can lose touch with the |
| soccer. I was always the last one picked to play on | | | | deepest part of ourself unless we slow down enough |
| the kickball team and, as the catcher of my 5th | | | | to breathe deeply, to still our thoughts and to |
| grade softball team, I pummeled the pitcher in the | | | | observe the natural world with a sense of wonder. |
| head with a fast ball. Uncoordinated in team sports, I | | | | Walking with awareness provides us with an |
| succeeded only at baton twirling which was fun but I | | | | opportunity to connect with the surrounding nature |
| barely broke a sweat. After failures in group sports I | | | | and our "inner nature". Then we are able to tend to |
| thought I'd try running so, a few years ago I | | | | the trinity that we are made up of - mind, body and |
| attempted to train for a half marathon. I ended up | | | | spirit. In creating a balance among all three, we |
| limping home in tears and thought I'd never exercise | | | | enhance the quality of all areas of our life. |
| again. (I couldn't even MOVE after that, much less | | | | Use a long walk or hike to come home to yourself. If |
| exercise!) | | | | you don't go within you'll go without! |
| Over the years I've used walking as a way of | | | | So often we walk hurriedly, rushing from place to |
| getting out of the house, of 'warming up' for more | | | | place in a state of mindless detachment. Spiritual |
| vigorous exercise and just to hang out with friends. | | | | walking is a form of meditation in motion. Pick a route |
| This year, walking has turned into much more for me. | | | | that will allow you to practice mindfulness by fully |
| Walking allows me to integrate mind, body, and spirit | | | | engaging your senses. Feel the hard pavement or |
| in a way that I've not experienced before. Athletes | | | | soft grass beneath your feet, drink in the aroma of |
| speak of being "in the zone." I see that I too am an | | | | the honeysuckle as you pass by and make a mental |
| athlete and that walking can be vigorous and can | | | | note of what flowers are in bloom. Notice the feel of |
| provide my body with the movement it craves. | | | | the wind against your face. The rhythm of walking |
| Walking has allowed me to reclaim fitness goals that I | | | | helps us to quiet our minds and from time to time |
| had given up on. I think I've finally found something | | | | we may receive inspiration or gain insight into some |
| that I can be good at and stick with long term! | | | | troubled area of our lives. |
| "Movement in the body brings movement in the mind. | | | | Plan a walking retreat. |
| It is a natural alchemy. So many of us seek this kind | | | | You can use walking as a sort of mini-retreat. I'm not |
| of movement in our lives, a fusion of being and | | | | talking about going away for a week or even a |
| doing."- Carolyn Scott Kortge from her book, The | | | | weekend, unless you want to, of course. I'm |
| Spirited Walker. | | | | suggesting that you set aside a few hours, or even a |
| These days, our lives are set at an incredibly frantic | | | | full day for an exploration on foot - far from the |
| pace. We have so much on our plates that we fear | | | | demands of work, home, and family. |
| we'll never get everything done, and we wonder | | | | First, choose a date on your calendar and mark it as |
| when we'll find time to do those things that bring us | | | | your "retreat day." You want this day to be yours, |
| pleasure. Even when the world seems to be spinning | | | | for your personal walking adventure. Next, identify a |
| out of control, walking can restore our sense of inner | | | | place that you want to explore on foot. If you enjoy |
| peace. Time seems to expand, giving us a chance to | | | | being out in nature, call your local parks and |
| slow down, to relax, to appreciate ourselves and our | | | | recreation department to request maps of your area. |
| lives. | | | | If you love looking at homes and gardens (one of |
| Even when we are just going out for a walk, we are | | | | my favorite kinds of walks), think of a neighborhood |
| hardly ever just walking. We carry our mind around | | | | that you'd like to see up close. You want to spend |
| with us when we walk, so we are usually absorbed in | | | | your time walking, not driving so try to choose a |
| our own thoughts. I have come to see that the sole | | | | location that's not too far from home. If you never |
| work of walking has turned into soul work. I have | | | | have to get in your car, that's even better. |
| even nicknamed some of my walks with particularly | | | | The hour-long neighborhood walk that I take ends in |
| insightful friends "walk and talks" where we process | | | | a long slope that leads to the street that I live on. I |
| life together and use walking as a metaphor for | | | | listen to my body tell me, "we can't do this, we'll |
| moving forward in life. | | | | never make it home." I hear my own inner demons |
| And then there's walking alone which frees us up for | | | | loud and clear and then I bid them farewell using |
| some internal dialogue. I've learned to turn off the cell | | | | positive self-talk. As I approach the top of the hill I |
| phone, take off the headphones and stop drowning | | | | recount what a wonderful walk it was and how |
| out the natural world. When I allow myself to hear | | | | strong I am becoming. I'm glad it's over, yet I'm |
| my own thoughts and resolve any internal conflicts, I | | | | already looking forward to the next outing! |
| am at peace in the sanctuary of my mind. Moving | | | | I am grateful for spiritual walking. For me, it is a new |
| meditation, or spiritual walking is a wonderful way of | | | | route to wellbeing, a merger of muscle and mind. |
| grounding ourselves in our own presence. | | | | Infusing my exercise routine with spirituality has |
| "Above all, do not lose your desire to walk. I have | | | | turned a good walk into a God walk! |