This morning, I went for a walk and then went to the gym. Most people use the treadmill for walking, but I prefer to walk outside, in the street, or in the park.
I sit for many hours in front of the computer, and therefore, I prefer to walk outside. I can enjoy the open space and see people, cars, the sun, and the sky instead of a screen and a wall.
When you walk outside, in the street, park, or on the beach, you become invigorated and energized. The air and open space expand your awareness.
When I walk in the morning, I hear the birds singing, I see people going to work, and I see the world waking to a new day. This is much more interesting than walking on the treadmill.
In the afternoon, just before or after sunset, it is an hour of magic and a wonderful time to take a walk. The sky and the clouds change colors, becoming crimson, orange, and pink colored.
Of course, this is a matter of taste. Some people might not agree with me and prefer to walk on a treadmill, missing all this magic.
Enjoy Nature While Walking
When I look around me, I see people with their eyes glued to their smartphones or listening to music with their earphones.
Some people walk while smoking. How do going for a walk and improving your health go hand in hand with smoking?
People talk on the phone while walking. How can they enjoy walking or seeing the scenery around them while talking on the phone? Walking is a kind of rest, a timeout from your daily activities, so why not give the mind, ears, and mouth some rest, too?
It’s strange, but I rarely see anyone looking around, examining the buildings, the streets, the people, the houses, or the cars. Has curiosity disappeared?
I hardly see people raising their heads to look at the top of the houses. I hardly see people raise their heads to the sky when a plane flies by, and I don’t see people on the street looking at the stars and the moon at night.
A few months ago, there was a beautiful sight in the sky, which occurred every evening for some time. The planets Venus and Jupiter, the most shining stars in the sky, were very close to each other (as seen from Earth, of course). One evening, the moon joined them, and that was a spectacular sight, but I did not see people raising their heads to look at them. Maybe some did, but I am inclined to think they were in the minority. Where is curiosity?
The Things You Can Enjoy Doing While Walking:
- You can enjoy the view.
- Watch nature, people, cars and houses. This could be quite interesting and is a good exercise for seeing details.
- You can meditate while walking. There are meditations suitable for walking.
- Visualize what you want to achieve.
- Repeat affirmations about the things you want to get or do.
- You can solve problems.
- Count your steps as an exercise for concentration and discipline.
- Listen to music.
- You can listen to an audiobook.
You can add other activities that come to mind to this list.
Next time you go for a walk, remember what you read here and try doing one of the things I suggested. You will be surprised to discover a different world that is interesting and beautiful.
