Why not...take a walk?

Clear Your Head

...walking remains the ultimate time for freedom of thought. It’s when I feel my tensions liberated...as the promenade of the mind follows that of the body.

 Mireille Guiliano

Had a stressful day, week or event? Get outside. Let your body take in the fresh air and release some of your built up negative energy. While the walk itself won’t solve the problems, it will allow some distance from them. Often times this separation allows you to calm down and think things through with a clear mind.

Always At The Ready

Unlike many outdoor activities that rely on the weather to cooperate, walking can be done in the rain (throw on your wellies), in the snow (don a warm scarf), or during the warmth of summer (don’t forget your sunscreen!). The luxury of knowing that a walk can take place at anytime, anywhere is calming in itself. By taking a walk, you’re often forced to slow down, ponder and take in the reality that is around you whether it be a city street or the beauty of nature.

It can be a special kind of indulgence, these moments when one becomes aware of really existing, as the images, information and the other sensations the world tries to press upon us all recede. Learning to be comfortable in that space, when it is just you, takes practice. But doing so diminishes the impulse to lie to yourself or run away. You won’t want to.

Mireille Guiliano

  

 Photo: Fash n Chips 

Chat With A Friend

 

Something I thoroughly enjoy doing with my closest girlfriends, and mother as well, is walking with them.  Despite our busy schedules, locale or time of day, we can always find time to walk, which ultimately is an excuse to chat.  But by walking, there’s an added benefit – two therapies in one!

See the Sights

  

Walking is walking no matter where it takes place, so why not take a tour of that museum or Japanese Garden you’ve been curious about? Walking really allows you to do two things at once, take in sights and burn a few calories, or enjoy someone’s company and burn calories, or as you will see next, one of my all time favorites, window shop and burn a few calories!

Retail Therapy

Shopping is a sport in and of itself. And while the exhaustion at the end of such a day is somewhat emotional, it is also very physically exhausting due to what else? All of the walking from one fabulous store to the next.

While I’m sure many of you already use this excuse, never be afraid to say you’re embarking on your exercise routine as you swiftly grab your keys, your wallet, all the while dressed in comfortable, yet stylish ballet flats and a fantastic outfit. No questions need to be asked.

Find Time To Dream

All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.

Nietzsche

I couldn’t agree more. Since walking does allow me to clear my head, I’m able to discover things lost in my subconscious and bring them to the forefront of my to do list. All of those things you want to do, that you dream to do, – I’ll bet you’ll be able to find them on a nice leisurely stroll.

Photo: Christine

Reason For Reward 

On weekdays during my first two student years in Paris, I used to walk between the Eiffel Tower and the Sorbonne, a different route going and coming.  On the weekends, my roommate and I, both provincial girls discovering Paris with very wide eyes, would spend Saturdays walking six to eight miles, stopping only for lunch and a five o’clock ice cream – that little weekly reward.

Mireille Guiliano

And one of the benefits of engaging in a walk is the treat at the end of the journey – a reward of sorts. Whether it be sitting in one of the many les jardins in Paris or stopping by your favorite coffee shop, take a moment and savor what your eyes, ears and mind have been engaged in during your luxurious walk.

in The Simply Luxurious Life

See "Why not...ride a bike?".