Take a Walk

One month ago, on a random Sunday, I was sitting at my desk as usual writing an article for this site. That night I wasn’t thinking clearly, and words weren’t coming to me easily.

This frustrated me.

Somewhere in the midst of my frustration, I got up, threw on a sweater and walked out of my apartment. I didn’t know where I was headed, but I knew I was going for a nice, long walk.

Prior to this Sunday, I had never taken a random walk like this before. Acting on my impulse turned out to be one of the greatest decisions I’ve ever made in my life. I’ve since found a place of refuge in nature that I can access simply by stopping what I’m doing, and heading out the door.

If you’ve never taken a walk before, you’re missing out on something great. But before you decide to walk out of your door right now, here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your walks.

Absorb Yourself in Nature

In order for your walks to be truly beneficial, you must allow the wonder of nature to work for you. Allow yourself to get fully absorbed in the present moment as you take your walk. Many people take walks, and then completely ignore the nature around them because they are so caught up with the thoughts running around in their heads.

That makes perfect sense…

I’ll admit, I was one of these people when I first started taking walks. On my first night, I figured I would go outside, think about what I needed to write about, and the walk would have served its purpose. Instead, I found this to be as frustrating and stressful as sitting in my room, staring at my computer screen. I might as well have stayed at home.

The value of a walk is proportionate to our ability to allow ourselves to become fully absorbed in the wonder of nature around us. While you’re walking, drift into the present moment by focusing on everything in your environment. I love to listen to the trees rustle in the wind, and look up at the stars. I also love taking walks at night. There’s something about the dark that makes nature much more enchanting. No matter what your personal preference, the most important thing is to let yourself get lost in nature while you take your walks.

The Benefits

For each person, the benefits of taking a walk will be different. Some people may experience peace and serenity while they walk, while others may have an invigorating experience. Walking may become your refuge from the stresses of daily life, or it could become your source of creative brilliance.

No matter what the specific benefits, taking a walk will help you become a more grateful individual. As you take notice of the beauty that surrounds you, you will develop a deeper sense of appreciation for the gift of nature. This is one of the best ways to make gratitude a permanent state of your being.

The Next Step

The next time you’re feeling frustrated or stressed out, take a walk. While you’re on your walk, allow yourself to become fully absorbed in the present moment. Observe the grandeur of the nature that surrounds you. At first you may experience some difficulty ridding your mind of thought, but over time it will become easier to maintain your focus. As you become more accustomed to this process, you will develop a deeper appreciation for the gift of nature. Continue down this path, and gratitude is sure to become your permanent state of being.

Have any additional tips, comments or suggestions? Please leave them in the comments section below. I’m interested in hearing what you have to say!

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