One of my favorite pastimes is walking. The goal isn’t to complete a certain number of steps each day. It isn’t to meet the challenge of days spent being physically active. It isn’t even to advance my fitness level (although, that is a bonus). My goal, quite simply, is to connect . . . with nature, with myself, and with others. My mind is an exceptionally active place. I’m always thinking, planning, and considering my next move. I enjoy challenges and am continuously seeking the next test of my abilities, but, while I appreciate and have benefitted from that drive, there is a downside. I struggle to pause for any length of time to simply enjoy what I have accomplished. It’s also difficult for me to get completely “out of my head” to relax. At this stage in my life, I am more conscious of that tendency than I used to be, but this has proven to be a consistent challenge for me. I put forth considerable effort to be mindful and to relax. Does that sound ludicrous to anyone else? Who would have thought THAT would be a significant challenge in life?! I’m guessing, though, that I am not alone and that many individuals have danced with that same demon. I have explored and attempted to implement many strategies to assist me with relaxation, but some (despite the hype) simply do not work for me. Traditional meditation is one strategy I have attempted to implement and have failed to benefit from . . . repeatedly. Honestly, the amount of energy I expended stressing over the passing (“wasting”) of time while going through the motions removed any real benefit I could have reaped. It was ridiculous! But walking? Ahhhhh! Walking is the medium through which I can achieve that desired mental state. For me, walking is pure bliss.
We spend so much time rushing through life to get from Point A to Point B that we really don’t consider the scenes that our senses allow us to perceive. On a daily basis, we jump into our cars, with drinks of choice in hand, and a “to do” list that grows by the minute. Our minds are elsewhere – not in that car, not on that street, and definitely not in that moment. We speed along with windows closed, the climate controlled, and our immediate world contained. Most of the time we see what is necessary for us to safely navigate the scene – to move through it. But, we don’t absorb it, become a part of it, or appreciate it. We overlook the intricate details of a house, the varied colors and textures of the landscape, and the eclectic mix of toys strewn all over a yard. We ignore the joyful trill of the birds, the excited chatter of children, and the monotonous drone of a lawnmower. We miss the enticing aromas of grilled cuisine, the teasing fragrance of dancing flowers, and the moist scent of approaching rain. We disregard the amazing flavor bursting from a wild berry, the sweet crunch of a sun-ripened apple, and the refreshing coolness of a sip of water. We take for granted the incomparable feel of a tiny hand in ours, the tickle of a puppy’s kiss, and fresh air in our lungs. We miss it all.
When walking, life slows down for me. I don’t just see things, I experience them. Walking is an activity that keeps my body active but my mind free. It is the means through which I can be fully present and attend to everything I would otherwise miss. It is time spent that allows me to focus on life in its many forms. I witness the turtle slowly, but deliberately, making his way across the path. I attend to the insistent sound of the wind as it moves delicately through the tall grass. I absorb the sweet smell of the wildflowers randomly placed, but firmly established, along the path beneath my feet. I experience the sweet juice of the berry as it explodes in my mouth. I enjoy the cool air as it caresses my face. Walking, for me, is a blessing – a gift. It’s a “permission slip” for me to slow down, a prompting to recognize what is before me, and a reminder to appreciate all that I have. It’s a means for me to be actively engaged, fully present, and blissfully mindful. Let this be your call to action. Slow down, be mindful, and live your bliss. Life is too short for anything less.