“Me thinks
that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow”Henry
David Thoreau
“If I could not walk far and fast, I think I should just explode and perish”Charles Dickens
“Thoughts come clearly while one walks”Thomas Mann
“If I could not walk far and fast, I think I should just explode and perish”Charles Dickens
“Thoughts come clearly while one walks”Thomas Mann
Walking has become a part of my daily
routine – not just around the house but outside in my neighborhood or with
friends whenever I can. The joys of walking are multitude. I greet neighbors walking their dogs. I am not a dog person (cats are my favorite)
but have met some nice friendly well-behaved dogs. There is one orange and
white cat who rules the street on my route and I delight seeing him roll in
front of me on “his” street. I might
hear or see a bird or two (and remember how much my husband enjoyed
bird-watching) or check the local pond for ducks! I watch for hawks sitting
high up in the trees or in the sky. I
occasionally see our postman who has family on an island in Maine so, of
course, I check in with him as I have a house on a Maine island. While walking
last week a neighbor said “I have just read the best book – ‘News of the World’
by Paulette Jiles”.I exclaimed I loved that book and just recommended it in the Fireside Reads program at the library. I guess everyone knows I am a librarian and a book person! Walking lifts my spirits.
Sometimes I talk to myself to try to
organize my thoughts on a particular problem or project. Occasionally I might compose a letter in my
head to someone – a note of concern or thanks – often just the right words rise
up. I do not count steps or have a ‘fitbit’.
I just try to walk about 45 minutes a day. I like the comments about
mindful walking - bring your attention to movement around you – wind, leaves,
birds, clouds, people, colors – just helps to relax. Upon return home I always
feel refreshed and ready to tackle whatever the rest of the day might bring.
Two special places for me to walk are Back
Bay in Boston and the Cape Cod Canal. I
worked at the Boston Public Library as did my husband and I have many many
memories of walking along Boylston St. around Trinity Church up to the Public
Garden and down Newbury Street poking my head in art galleries and shops. Those
memories are vivid and pleasant. Over many years library colleagues and I have
walked the Cape Cod Canal watching the water, boats, birds, and of course
talking and also reminiscing. I also do recommend the Massachusetts Audubon
sanctuaries for walking – check their website online for a sanctuary near you.
The library has many books on the subject
of walking mostly in the travel section of 917.
A few are “Historic Walks in Old Boston” by John Harris 917.44 Boston, Harris, “AMC’s Best Day Hikes
in the Berkshires” by Rene Laubach
917.44 Berkshires, and “Washington on Foot: 24 Walking Tours and Maps of
Washington,DC” 917.53 Washington. On the shelves were books on walking on the
Cape, my favorite state of Maine, and even walking tours of London and
Paris. A different approach to walking
is the book “Wanderlust: a History of Walking” by Rebecca Solnit 796.51 Solnit.
The book profiles significant walkers in history and fiction – kind of a fun
interesting way to think about walking. The book “Mindfulness on the Go – Inner
Peace in Your Pocket” by Padraig O’Morain 158.12 O’Morain has a short chapter
on mindful walking which has shown one’s mood improves with whatever kind of
walking one chooses.
I hope I have presented some ideas and
resources to make walking a routine and pleasurable part of your daily life.
