By Leland Pulley
It is the summer season and a time to be outdoors. One simple and enjoyable way to enjoy summer is to take walks. The weather is good, and people seem friendlier than at any other time of the year. The trees are green and the flowers are out. The birds are singing. You can see people enjoying conversations and food on their patios. You can smell meat being cooked on barbecues. Observe people eating meals at tables outside of many restaurants and eating places. At parks or sports areas watch people participate in games and athletic activities. Take everything in on your walk. If you do, you will find that a simple thing like walking can be turned into one of the most enjoyable activities of the summer season. Thereafter, let walking continue throughout the other seasons of the year.
Last evening, I took a walk in a neighborhood close to my home. I really enjoy seeing some different scenery and getting some exercise at the same time. Walking is an opportunity to get out of the house and take a break from the work in my office at home. While walking I pay attention to the many things in the immediate environment. I see the cars people are driving, the way they keep up their yards, the styles of clothes they are wearing. I see the various activities going on in nature. Many people are out walking their dogs or they are at a playground or park with their children. On walks like this, I am in no hurry and have no time schedule. There is usually no definite time I have to return home. If I want to stop along the way and observe something or talk to someone or go into a store, I can do this. It is a very free and relaxed feeling. On any walk, I strive to assimilate the positive things observed and felt, and overlook things that are questionable or negative.
Before marriage my wife and I took some walks together, and in the process got to know one another better. By the way, this is still a good way to go on a date without spending money and enjoying time together, as well as getting to know the other person. After marriage we continued taking walks on a regular basis. Over the years this pattern has continued. Walking has given each of us many benefits.
A big benefit of walking is couples can talk about things together. You can talk in private away from children or others who may be living in your home. Topics may include marriage, parenting, the family budget, vacation plans, or a variety of other family related topics. You can talk about the events of your day. Sometimes you discuss other things like politics or religion.
Walking is not limited to your own neighborhood or a neighborhood close to home. There are plenty of parks both nearby or a short drive away. You can take a hike in the woods or go to a beach and walk along the ocean. If you live in a larger metropolitan area, you can go downtown and walk around to see the many activities going on. If you have a waterfront in your city, this is a good place to go for a walk. Sometimes it is enjoyable to do this after dark when you can see the lights of the city.
Walking serves many practical purposes. The first one in merely to get some exercise. This is still one of the best and obviously the cheapest form of exercise we can all utilize. You can walk fast or slow, and walk short or long distances. I have seen people using different types of walking to exercise their bodies in different ways. Walk the way you want, but strive to get some exercise while doing so. Walking is not intended to be the only type of exercise you get. I have belonged to health or fitness clubs or gyms. Obviously at such places they offer a variety of ways to get exercise, as well as do things together as a group. However, a gym membership does not necessarily rule out an enjoyable walk on a summer evening or a regular pattern of walking by a couple throughout their marital lives.
Today many people are overweight. They eat too much for the number of calories they use up daily. On top of this, they sit too much and lack sufficient exercise to not only burn calories, but to keep their bodies in good physical condition. They may decide to go on a diet for weight loss. Diets that work require some exercise as well as a change in eating habits. Walking can be part of the exercise program associated with a diet.
Walking, if approached with the right attitude, will make you more health-conscious. Part of the motivation for taking a walk is to get some exercise. People associate exercise with health. When they walk regularly, they know they are getting some exercise, and will think about their health too. If they have a good attitude about walking, this will carry over to having a positive attitude about maintaining their health.
Another purpose of walking is for a change of scenery and a change of pace. This can be merely getting out of the house for a few moments of peace and quiet as you walk around the neighborhood. This can be walking through a park or nature area and enjoying the scenery. If you work in an office building downtown, take a walk during lunch hour. Despite some of the noise of traffic and many people on the sidewalk with you, the walk allows you to get out of the office and rejuvenate your body so you are ready for working in the afternoon.
Walking is good for mental health as well as physical health. Having a change of scenery and making time for relaxation contributes to good mental health. If you are concerned about something or bothered by something, thinking about it on a walk will help you come up with a solution. In a similar manner, if you are unhappy with what someone just did or said to you, take a walk and cool down a bit. This will give you a chance to think through what happened and what is the best course of action to take. A walk provides a timeout for an argument so both parties can be separated and have time to think things through before continuing any discussion. In these ways there is less continuation of anger and less retaliation or doing things which you will regret later.
Walking can even allow you to do some planning. What do you want to do when you get home or for the rest of the day? How are you going to bring up a topic and how will you approach it when talking with another individual? What goals are you seeking currently, and what is your progress in achieving them? These types of questions and more can be pondered and resolved while walking. At the end of the walk, you will have a better idea of what to do and how you will do it.
There is also a spiritual dimension to walking that shows up in many ways. If you enjoy the natural scenery, you have a feeling of freedom and gratitude for the creation of a wonderful world in which you live. If you can replace negative feelings about others with neutral or positive ones while on the walk, you are in the process of forgiving and thereby raising your spirituality. While walking, it is easy to have a prayer about your own needs, as well as the needs of others. If you want to sit on a park bench for a while, you can do some meditation. This can lead to a greater determination to improve your life and set a better example for others.
Often people make excuses for not taking walks. First, they rationalize that walking takes time and they are short of time now. One answer for this is to do some things while walking which they would do at home or at the office anyway. For example, when my wife and I walk, discussing a topic takes no more time than discussing the same topic at home. Another excuse for not taking a walk is bad weather. It may be cool or hot or raining. It is good to get outside and easy to dress for cold weather, including some snow. When you come home, you feel refreshed and enjoy the inside of your home even more. If it is raining a little, take an umbrella and still go on the walk. If the sun is bright, wear a hat to provide shade for your head and bring along some sunglasses. Wear less clothes and use some lotion for sunburn. Whatever your excuse may be, find a practical solution, and get walking.
In summary walking is valuable for all of us. Consider its value in your life and how you use this activity currently. What are some ways to incorporate it more fully into your life? How can you get more out of it? I challenge you to develop walking into an enjoyable activity. Let it become a consistent part of your life that will remain with you as long as your health permits.
Key Words – walking, take a break, talking to someone, couples can talk about things together, exercise, health, change of scenery and a change of pace, good for mental health, planning, spiritual dimension, excuses for not taking walks, enjoyable activity
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