Walking

When I start out on a walk, the feeling is similar to when I first step into a hot tub – piercing goosebumps all over my body from the shock of the hot water, causing complete chaos, all my limbs contracting inward like a dying spider. I know the further I dip into the tub the closer I am to relaxation and blissful warmth, and so I seep down further and further, and after about 30 seconds, a final large exhale.  I am submerged.

An odd way to describe the first few steps of my walks, I know. It has nothing to do with temperature (usually) and more about the initial action of beginning that forward movement and persuading myself that the walk is something I want…to keep going…to submerge.

I walk for a few reasons. I know it is a good form of exercise, I always enjoy the randomness of what I see, and it helps me unleash my thoughts. Though I have these beneficial reasons for walking, when the time comes for my outing, I tend to fight going. It is easy to tell myself not to do it, don’t go. I work out every morning so the exercise excuse always surfaces first – “I already did my work out for the day.” Then I move to the laundry list of stuff that must get done and convince myself that there is more important things to get done in the hour. This entire battle happens every time I have a planned walk, and it takes me a good 45 minutes before I get my shoes on and go. The reason that typically gets me out the door is the self reminder of the rhythmic thinking and mental processing I do when I walk , much like the conversation I have with myself when I want to go hot tubbing. I just have to get past that initial dip.

I likely have upwards of 50-100 thoughts on a typical hour walk. I have never counted, but that number feels realistic. Some of my thoughts come and go within seconds – in one ear and out the other as they say. Some thoughts linger for a few minutes and I make a mental note to write it down when I get home. Some of the thoughts linger, for much longer, and end up following me around long after the walk has ended.

These many thoughts that happen during my walks is the reason I feel so accomplished when I return, because I have unleashed new ideas, conversed over stressors that have been bogging me down, determined solutions to problems, discovered what my next passion and hobby is going to be, convinced myself that I am a master of many things, found the meaning to big life questions, made up my mind about issues, contemplated new ways to approach life, selected paint colors for the home, wondered what the decor behind each house door looks like, what the story is on the junkyard down the alley, and many many other thoughts. This is just naming a few.

Now, thoughts don’t only happen when I am walking. They also happen while I am cooking dinner and when I set my head down on my pillow for the night. Those thoughts are usually some of my heaviest. Thoughts also join me in waiting rooms, during massages, in line at the grocery store, and through my entire day. The difference however, between thoughts during my walks and thoughts at all other times, is that as they come in and meander in my mind while walking, I process the thoughts much differently. The fresh air, the rhythmic pattern of my steps, my cortisol suppressed and endorphins running high – these all help me hear and approach my thoughts very methodically, instead of feeling like I am herding cats, which is how I feel about many of my thoughts 75%…well, 90% of the time.

Whether you walk to feel accomplished in your health and exercise, walk because you lack transportation, walk because you drank too much and driving is a horrible idea, or walk because, like me, it helps with all the swirling conversations you are having in your head… just walk. Walk for all the reasons I mentioned and more.