Walking

Today was a chilly day. The sun was out, and the sky was bright blue, but when I left my house this afternoon, I could feel the signature mid-January temperature. Usually, I love embarking on my daily walks, but today, I was a little frustrated. I locked my back door, and as I strolled through the quaint neighborhoods of a Salt Lake suburb, I didn't stop to admire the stained glass windows of some of the houses or the frosted-over garden beds. Despite my frazzled headspace, I took a different route than usual and stumbled upon something I had never realized.

There is a park about a three-minute drive from my house. I've driven by it before but have never walked there since I typically venture in the opposite direction. I approached the park from the backside and initially didn't recognize it. When I realized where I was, I was excited to have finally visited this place I had seen only a few times before.

As I walked further, I discovered this park hid a sprawling nature preserve behind a hill, rendering it invisible from any streets. Hidden behind houses, hills, and woods were eleven acres of walkable trail that followed along a beautiful creek. I read all sorts of signage about the native animals living in the preserve and stood on the creek bank to watch some ducks bob for food. Without realizing it, my frustration had been replaced by a calm appreciation for this space I had never discovered. During this time, I recall a feeling of creativity and inspiration blossoming within me, and I remembered another person who may have shared a similar experience.

Henry David Thoreau has written extensively about the intellectual and spiritual benefits of walking. In his essay "Walking," Thoreau writes, "I think that I cannot preserve my health and spirits unless I spend four hours a day at least– sauntering through the woods and over the hills and fields." Although I may not walk four hours per day, I resonate deeply with this passage and with the desire to write at length about my conviction surrounding the benefits of daily walking. As with Thoreau, my walks are sacred time. This time allows me to reflect and be present, and more often than not, brilliant ideas will come to me while I'm out on walks.

The freedom of walking is part of its brilliance. Walking gives your mind a chance to explore and your body a chance to circulate, which is a superpower for creativity. Apple's founder, Steve Jobs, is another avid walker who highly praises this simple activity. Steve was known to hold "walking meetings" to foster creative problem-solving. Walking in a quiet area provides a focused environment to explore your thoughts and make meaningful connections.

Tonight, my girlfriend and I decided to walk to the gas station. These trips are fun for us for a few reasons.

Firstly, we get to spend time together. Walking with another person facilitates sociality by allowing for a space where conversation can flow freely. There is just enough external stimulation to engage our minds without becoming too distracted. Also, small events that we would have missed if we had stayed inside became spectacular talking points or lifelong inside jokes.

Secondly, we know we are saving on gas and emissions. Driving has become so commonplace that we sometimes forget that walking is an option. A five-minute drive costs us about twenty-four cents, assuming we drive at 30 miles per hour and our car gets 27 miles per gallon. That may not seem like much, but small costs add to big regrets over time. I don't even remember spending that much this month! Plus, if we can avoid the emissions, even better. Salt Lake City is notorious for lousy air quality, so if there are small changes we can make to help the cause, we welcome the opportunity.

Lastly, we both like to track our fitness. We are not fitness gurus by any means, but we both own smartwatches and like to set modest movement goals. By taking a walk, we reap the health benefits while chipping away at our goals. Adding more walking time throughout the day compounds the process, and before you know it, ten thousand steps is a cakewalk (no pun intended).

To explore this practice, try carving out small moments throughout the day to find reasons to walk, even if it seems more inconvenient. Also, try to take more intentional walks with no real destination and explore your environment. You will be pleasantly surprised when you find something you've never noticed in your neighborhood. Try to observe how your stress, motivation, and creativity levels change. When you're done, reflect on your experience. Soon, this activity that is so often overlooked may become your favorite daily routine.