How My Morning Walk Became a Radical Act of Self-Care
By: The Do Book Company
Tags: Creativity, Books, Wellbeing, Walking, Nature

I had no idea the impact a simple, gentle walk would have on my life. The impact comes not only from the actual physical walking but also from the discipline, the practice, the commitment. This MorningWalk — I refer to my daily practice of walking as ‘MorningWalk’ — has ignited my sense of curiosity, satiated my everlasting wanderlust and been the most powerful tool for inspiration in my life.

I walk roughly the same loop most days. Out the front door, 5am, 8.2 miles, 17,740 steps. I walk past the same barn. On the same path. Along the same river. With the same headwind around that last turn. This conscious repetition is a form of meditation, designed for intentional familiarity. It’s almost as if I could do this route blindfolded, I have travelled it so often. Some days, on the backstretch, I close my eyes while walking for 10, 20, 30, 40 steps.

This creates a powerful silence. In this silence, I can hear what my body — my gut, my heart — is telling me in this moment. The mindlessness of the route itself brings mindfulness to the moment.

It seems so obvious now but my initial intention was simple: to be outside and to be mindful. Every day. To create space. To find time for creativity. To dedicate an hour of my day to something nourishing and satisfying. As my days had become more about tasks to complete, it became increasingly obvious that I needed to get outdoors, move and play a little.

This is not a story about mileage or pace. In fact, it is the opposite. This is a story about listening, seeing, hearing, feeling and understanding. It is also a story of radical self care. At the start, I wouldn’t have been able to identify it that way, but as time has passed the discipline of doing something physically and emotionally nourishing every day has been the most profound outcome of this daily practice.

Redefining success

When I think about life before the covid pandemic of 2020–2021, it felt as if the world defined success as someone who was busy. The cult of busy was overwhelming. MorningWalk became an act of rebellion that challenged the cultural norm. Success became more about going out even when it was −28°C (−18°F), when it was pouring with rain, when I ‘didn’t have time’ or when I just plain old didn’t want to go. Success was going because I’d promised myself I would, not because anyone else noticed or cared. It was a wildly selfish pursuit. I was able to redefine success in terms that were profoundly simple — to have walked every day — and to recognise that there wasn’t one walk where I didn’t feel better. And what do I mean by ‘feel better’? Well, everything. As it turns out, persistence, focus and determination can stretch limits and push boundaries. That is a powerful feeling of freedom and love. Commitment is intoxicating. There is nothing more generous than sticking to a promise you have made to yourself.

I dare say that is why pilgrims, protestors, monks, hikers, wanderers, activists, explorers, adventurers and poets often walk. There is a freedom when we walk. We strip away all the unnecessary noise and details in our mind and in the world and step into a place of profound sense of agency and focused attention. This is my experience with the ritual of a MorningWalk. Silence and celebration. Freedom and love. Quiet, intimate, daily acknowledgements of strength, commitment and resilience. This is why I feel better after a walk. It is a personal triumph.

There are many other benefits of a good walk. Walking is said to provide some powerful health benefits, such as:

· Improves circulation

· Strengthens bones

· Improves sleep

· Boosts energy for the day

· Maintains weight / burns calories

· Improves mood

· Strengthens your heart

· Boosts immune function

· Can help lower blood sugar

· Supports joints

· Lowers Alzheimer risks