Is there really that much to say about walking?

What is so great about walking?

Only everything!

One awesome reason to like walking is that it is a no expense activity. Unless you need to have fancy shoes and gadgets.

Another reason is accessibility. In general, most people are able to walk.(see one of my future posts on this subject)

Then there is the health reason. Walking is easy on the body and good exercise. This probably depends on where you walk and your state of health. The hike I took yesterday was great exercise but today my backside and thighs hurt. Thankfully it is in a good-maybe-I-am-starting-to-get-back-shape way.

Walking is also a time-flexible activity. Plan a special walk two weeks ahead or decide at the last minute. You can walk for 5 minutes or 2 hours. It is up to you to decide.

It can be a fun and healthy way to do errands. Full disclosure: I am pretty bad about this. Our grocery store is a 12 minute walk. The post office is 16 minutes away. And yet, I always find a reason to drive.

You never know what you might see on a walk. Where I live it is likely to be a cow or a wonderful view. If you live in New York, where it seems like everybody walks, then it could be anything.

Walking can be thrilling too. I once spent 15 excitedly terrifying minutes trying to cross a street in Florence, Italy. The drivers are insane. Every time I stepped off the curb a moped or car would speed past me. I eventually learned that only tourists wait. The citizens just go for it.

Why do I walk?

Ultimately I walk because of the way it makes me feel…whatever that feeling is. There are days when I need a walk to calm down after an issue with my kids. Sometimes I just want to feel my heart and lungs working. Often the main purpose is for exercise but it ends up improving my mood too. I also enjoy the conversation/talking part of my walks.

My mom is the one who got me hooked on walking. She loved walking! When it was our weekend with her she still wanted to be able to take walks so she used the best kind of incentive…ice cream! Eventually the walks were interesting enough…no ice cream required.

I am really lucky. Right now it looks like this where I live…

This is where I was hiking yesterday…

It is hard not to feel gratitude and joy when I am surrounded by this.

At some point I found myself behind a family on the path. The dad had a toddler on his back in a carrier and mom was walking slowly with grandma. Every time the man stopped to let the women catch up the toddler thought his dad was having trouble catching his breath. He clearly didn’t want to get out of the carrier and walk so he chose to cheer his dad on instead. I couldn’t help but smile listening to his chants of, “Go daddy go! Go daddy go!”

That little experience took an already wonderful day and made it even better.

That is why I walk. To have the chance to experience moments like that and the wonderful feelings that come with it.

The fact that the above grandma was making the hike and breathing easier than me is what inspires me to continue for as long as I can.

How about a walk today?