Happy Wednesday, friends!
I love a post that combines SAVORING + WELLNESS.
Okay, since it’s May (and you know how much I LOVE MAY!), and we are currently trying to…
…I thought it was the perfect time to chit chat about how I really SAVOR WALKING 🙂 .
Yes, yes, yes, and YES!
Walking is free, walking is convenient, and if you dress accordingly, you can pretty much walk year around.
Walking can be for introverts, extroverts, families, singles, morning people, night owls…most all of us.
I shared an entire blog post about how I WENT FROM RUNNING TO WALKING, and though I do still run a few times a week, I walk almost every single day. And guess what? I have been floored by the benefits/perks/enjoyment walking has had on me.
Here are some ways AND reasons I actually “savor” my walks (ie: I don’t rush through it, I really try and enjoy these moments):
TO BUILD COMMUNITY
Walking with friends and family is a great way to build community. Some days, I’ll walk with a girlfriend and other days, I’ll take a walk with Andrew after dinner. There is just something extra awesome about returning home from being active outside alongside someone else. Conversation seems to flow easier when you’re walking, the time flies by, you are “killing two birds with one stone” by getting in some steps and some socialization…it’s refreshing all the way around to “walk and talk”. Any time I walk with someone, no matter how brief it might be, it really does put a pep in my step. The other day, I was heading out to walk the dogs and Smith said he would come with me. Our walk was only about 15 minutes long but when I got home I told Andrew that even though it was only 6:20 in the morning, I was confident that I had just had the best part of my entire day. Fifteen minutes walking and talking with my boy? Yes, please!
TO BE OUTSIDE
Being outside is just good for my soul. I was a “gym rat” for so many years and then would go outdoors to run long distances…but I was hyper-focused on my time/distance/the running that I often forgot to just look around and take it all in. Walking forced me to slow down and just enjoy being outdoors. Since I sit inside at a desk most of the day, I truly do savor that time outside. I love to hear the birds, watch the rabbits go by, see the lights flip on in my neighbor’s home as their day starts, wave hi to people walking their dogs…being outside speaks right to my heart.
TO DECOMPRESS
If I am stressed or overwhelmed or upset or frustrated or whatever, I walk. If it’s been a long day and work has not gone well, you will find me outside on a walk. If my kids are driving me crazy, I take it outdoors. Sometimes, I only need to walk to the end of the street and back, but man, I am a new person when I arrive back home. It’s like hitting the reset button for me.
TO INSPIRE & LEARN
Years ago, I would say foolish things on here like “I am just not a podcast person”. Ha! Silly me. I wasn’t a podcast person because I wasn’t listening to the right podcasts for ME. Once I found certain podcast genres that really inspired and/or taught me things I wanted to learn more about, listening became one of my favorite pastimes. Now, I can’t get enough. I’m the crazy fool over here listening to five hours on how IKEA was formed (thank you, Acquired podcast!) and loving every second of it. I LOVE learning and being inspired by podcasts…which makes it the perfect companion to walking 🙂 . I haven’t started listening to audiobooks yet, but I imagine that one day I’ll hop on that train and walking will marry well with it too. Give me an hour on a Saturday morning with a new podcast episode and a walk and my day is MADE.
TO BE ACTIVE
I do a lot of things to “be active”, but I have yet to find one as simple and yet rewarding to me more than walking. I don’t have to buy a fancy membership, I don’t have to get in my car and drive to a studio. I can do it when I’m feeling my best, but I can also get out and do it on days when I’m feeling a little blah. I can do it with my kids, my pups, my friends or all by myself. It’s free, it’s easy, and it keeps me active while also not overstressing my body.
TO CATCH UP
I mentioned earlier that walking and community go hand and hand, but I also find that I savor my walks because they’re a great time to call and catch up with people. I pop in my Airpods and start chattin’ with my mama, my friends…it’s a great time to catch up. When I get back to my house, not only did I “get my steps in”, but I also got caught up with people I love. Win, win.
And those are some ways I savor my daily walks.
Right now, we are WALKING EVERY DAY IN MAY! Whether you started on the first or you’re starting today, I would love to have you walk every day with me. The next time you step outside to do it though, try to think of ways you are SAVORING the experience. Let me encourage you not just to go through the motions, really enjoy all the little aspects of it.
Don’t forget, you can also read how I SAVOR MY MORNING RITUALS, how I SAVOR CARPOOLING/COMMUTING to, how I SAVOR GROCERY SHOPPING , how I SAVOR AIR TRAVEL, and how I SAVOR SPRING too!
Okay, now I want to read your comments and see how/if you savor walking too!
Please share!
I’ll see you all back here tomorrow, friends. xx
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