Meditative Walking

“I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.”- Noel Coward

Walking is one of the blessings and joys of life. Don't believe me? Just ask someone who lives in a wheelchair. Purported to be the world's smartest human being, Stephen Hawking once stated that obesity is a major threat to the human race. More walking can help alleviate that threat. Most of us know the health benefits of walking. We have known it for years, but we simply haven't been willing to change our lifestyles to make it happen. We can't see how we can fit walking into our already over-stressed, hyper-busy lives. I'm here to help. Here I offer four tips, all of which I personally use, to help you get more walking every day:

1. Going to the mall? Don't get into mall-parking-lot-rage because someone took all the parking spots close to the mall entrance. Park in a spot farthest from the entrance and enjoy the three- or five-minute walk to the store. Not only that. When you are finished your shopping, you get to enjoy a short walk back to your vehicle again. (A side benefit to parking near the edge of the mall is that very few people are parked there, reducing your chances of having your car door dinged by some thoughtless shopper.)

2. Mowing your lawn? While you have your mower out, offer to mow your neighbor's lawn too. You get the benefits of more walking as well as making friends with your neighbor.

3. Work on the second, third or fourth floor of an office building? Use the stairs – always. Don't have the time? You will actually save time by not waiting for the elevator.

4. Need to pick up milk or bread at the neighborhood corner store? If it is less than a mile away and you need only a couple of items, consider walking. You might even get to know some of your neighbors.

Jonathon Stalls, a Living School student and founder of Walk2Connect, writes about learning how walking brings us closer to creation and our Creator:

"I can’t think of a better way to bring mindfulness practice into our body and into the outside world than through walking, strolling, or rolling at one to three miles an hour. It changes everything. It trains us, both on the inside and the outside, to begin seeing God, the Great Spirit, in ourselves and in others in such foundational ways. This humble posture invites us into the fragile details behind our own breath, the curious creatures high in the trees, and the struggle in being a pedestrian in today’s time. Whether it’s twenty minutes or four hours, mindful walking can invite new ideas, new ways of seeing, and new ways of understanding with every step. I invite you to step outside and walk mindfully, present to God’s presence in all things."

During our Covid 19 lockdowns and social distancing, we can sit at home surfing the net and grumbling about how the pandemic has isolated us. Or, if we are not quarantined, we can go for a long meditative walk, enjoying the fresh air and the sounds of nature. It's our choice.

"A walk in nature walks the soul back home." - Mary Davis

Stay safe, my friends.

Gerald M. Sliva

Week 6 of the Covid 19 Crisis - April 26, 2020

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