A good walk can infuse more energy into you than you ever imagined–and improve your mood! A good walk can do so much for you!
A few weeks ago, our family traveled to a little village outside of Montreal, Quebec, Canada for a business trip.
During the day, my husband and I met with six other blogging couples, and I also snuck away to work on my book manuscript during much of this trip. Meanwhile, our girls played the day away with more than twenty other kids, the children of the other couples.
After lunch one day, Will asked if I wanted to accompany him on a walk. It was in the mid-60s, sunny, and the leaves on the trees were already dressed in a gorgeous array of fall colors.
Of course I wanted to join him for a good walk!
But as I was lacing up my tennis shoes, our younger two girls spotted me. They hadn’t seen me or Will much at all that day, and they begged me to let them join them for the walk.
The romantic stroll through the village that Will had in mind? As soon as he saw me walk up with the girls, he knew that was out the window.
In fact, during the first few minutes of the walk, Will and I engaged in what a former pastor of ours jokingly refers to as “intense fellowship.”
“Why couldn’t you have just told the girls ‘no’?” he asked.
“Why can’t we just enjoy a family walk with the girls?” I countered.
But by the time we had made it to a picturesque park alongside the river, our moods had changed.
The girls delighted in running through the grass and hopping up to a picnic table to snap a few pictures by a beach.
What this good walk did.
The tension Will and I had felt dissipated, as we observed our girls reveling in the natural beauty all around us: the brilliant leaves still turning on the trees, the daisies growing along the road, the calm waters of the lake, the cotton-like clouds framed in clear blue sky, and the ducks swimming in a pond under a bridge.
It was a refreshing moment that neither of us had expected and that both of us might have missed if the girls hadn’t joined us for this short thirty-minute walk through the village.
We returned back to our cabin rejuvenated and ready to take on the rest of the day.
Aimee Hadden
This is exactly why I LOVE walking my son to school every day. There is something invigorating about walking outdoors first thing in the morning.
Erin
I would love to be able to do that! (Our school is a good 8-10 minute drive away!) What a great opportunity to start your day out like that!
Sarah
Just yesterday we loaded up the car to hit a local bike trail through the woods. When we got there we realized my husband forgot to put our 3 year olds bike in the car. So while everyone else rode off, I took a SLOW walk with our littlest. We stopped and looked at so many leaves, sticks and rocks. He even came home with a leaf bigger than his head. My grumpy attitude at the missing bike was quickly forgotten, and I am so thankful I had to slow down enough to see his wonder.
Erin
That is awesome. I love that story so much! I can just imagine how refreshing that walk became! Thanks for sharing!
Elizabeth
As a homeschool mom walks with my children are super important for all of us to stay sane!
Erin
Amen!! I hear you! I love fall, in particular, because it’s not too hot and not too cold for those walks!
Sarah@TheOrthodoxMama
What a fun post! We actually took several walks and hikes as a family this weekend. We hiked to a waterfall in Shenandoah National Park, enjoying the fall foliage along the way. Then we hiked the grounds at Montpelier (James Madison’s home) for free. The kids had a great time, and we didn’t spend any money. Woohoo!
Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life
YES! I always feel better after getting outside and walking. We have been doing a lot of visiting parks recently just to take advantage of the weather before it turns cold, and it has been such a delightful way to spend time together. I’m sure it’s a combination of the fresh air and exercise, but I always end up feeling refreshed and happier than when we started.
(The extra time outdoors and away from our house has not been helpful for my housework though! I was just thinking today how I am beginning to look forward to cozy winter days huddled up indoors in front of our fire too).
Charissa
I find that walking alone is a good time to think and pray. When I am walking with others I enjoy the conversation and connecting.
Carrie Willard
Absolutely! Daily “movement” (I dislike the term exercise, as healthy movement is about so much more) is absolutely essential to my wellbeing. I have a genetic predisposition towards depression, but have managed to stay off meds by making sure I move my butt every single day. I can start sinking into melancholy if I skip just a day or two.
Walking is also a great time to have difficult conversations with my husband or teen sons. I’ve read that men do better talking without eye contact, side-to-side rather than face-to-face. So if I need to discuss something potentially tense with the hubs, I suggest a walk. It also tends to diffuse the anxiety men feel (more so than women) with “interesting” conversations. The movement helps them be more open-minded and not angry. We’re created for movement!
Carole
I love the after dinner walk. It helps reduce stress, clear your mind, and its great exercise. It started with my grandmother. We would go for a walk after dinner. Then with my daughter, walking the dog after dinner became a ritual. She has now spread the virus to her new husband.
We’ve met a lot of people in the neighborhood. We get to appreciate the beauty of each season. If its later, its peaceful.
If you want to lose weight, walking is great. My sister lost a lot of weight after they got a dog. A mall walker that I would run into said she had to cut own on her walking because she lost too much weight.
Such a simple thing with so many benefits!
Debbie
I live in a town that sits above and next to a major river in Alberta, Canada. Walks are a necessary part of my life. As much as my body needs the exercise, my spirit needs to connect with nature so a walk along the riverside accomplishes all that and leaves me feeling at peace and able to carry on.
Mama2eight
Can I join you? Sounds lovely!
I only live in Southern California…
Mama2eight
That’s what miss most about San Diego. Our walks around Mission Bay. It was a very safe place to walk. Nice view. Where we live now, the best I can figure out is to walk around a park or football field. Not the same. Our neighborhood is not very safe…
But this weekend I plan to walk around. I’ll be on retreat in the mountains. Getting brisk, but not cold yet. While the others are playing paintball, I’ll find something less painful to do. I don’t like being a target!
I long for good walks!
Joanne Mahoney
I live in Michigan, and the weather in the summer can be in the 90’s and in the winter it can go as low as -22. Of course walking in the extreme temp’s is out of the question; but I try to log in 8-10 miles per week. I don’t have to tell you that it’s good exercise, but walking will put your mind in a good place. I am lucky, we have walking trails behind our home, and a lake across the street that I can walk around in about 40 minutes. Not to mention a paved walking/biking trail in the town that I live in.
Life is busy, make an effort if you can, to take some time to enjoy what nature has given us.