Falling in Love with Walking
How Walking Became My Top Self Care Activity
This voiceover is an audio version of my Slow Sunday Letter below. It is unedited, so may have some stutters, imperfections, and background noise. I hope you enjoy listening to it anyway!
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Welcome back to another Slow Sunday Letter! I hope you have had a slow and gentle week.
I love nature, and I love walking, and I adore how the two go hand in hand. Over the past year I have tried to live more seasonally and in doing so I think I’m more aware of the natural world, it’s beauty, it’s changes. A crisp cold morning in January, or the smell after a downpour in April, vibrant sunflowers swaying in a gentle summer breeze in July, or the crunch of leaves under foot in October. It is the walking in amongst nature that has really called to me. It has strengthened my awareness, made me more grateful for the current season, it has soothed my mind and made my body feel strong. Walking in nature maybe one of the simplest forms of self care there is, but it is most certainly one of the most powerful, and one of my favourite self care activities.
So grab a cuppa, get cosy and let’s see how you can build walking and nature into your everyday life and what amazing benefits you would invite in by forging this as an intentional habit!
Walk Yourself Happy
“None of your knowledge, your reading, your connections will be of any use here: two legs suffice, and big eyes to see with. Walk alone, across mountains or through forests. You are nobody to the hills or the thick boughs heavy with greenery. You are no longer a role, or a status, not even an individual, but a body, a body that feels sharp stones on the paths, the caress of long grass and the freshness of the wind. When you walk, the world has neither present nor future: nothing but the cycle of mornings and evenings. Always the same thing to do all day: walk. But the walker who marvels while walking (the blue of the rocks in a July evening light, the silvery green of olive leaves at noon, the violet morning hills) has no past, no plans, no experience. He has within him the eternal child. While walking I am but a simple gaze.”
― Frédéric Gros, A Philosophy of Walking
Before we dive in, I want to be clear that while walking in beautiful luscious landscapes, in huge national parks, or along expansive beaches, rolling countryside with awe inspiring views IS amazing - you don’t need them to really tune into nature. The benefits of walking and ‘green therapy’ can be accessed anywhere and in any space (even your garden or front porch!). I live in the city, and even my every day walk to and from work is punctuated with beautiful moments and gifts from nature that can inspire, energise and soothe me.
The best thing about walking, is you don’t have to be super fit, you don’t need to spend any money, you don’t need any fancy accessories, amazing destinations or landscapes, or even big goals. Walking in nature is a humble, and simple act of self care that you can access simply by going outside into the fresh air, and putting one foot in front of the other. Whether that is just a step or two, 10,000 steps or a long hike.
Walking in nature brings you - mind, body and soul in line with nature and the natural world around you. It has amazing benefits, both physical and mental and it feels wonderful. Humans are drawn to nature- and that sense of calm, mixed with awe and wonder is something that can only be captured when we connect with the world around us. Ever caught yourself day dreaming up at the clouds as they softly move across the sky, or tracing a pattern on a rock, sea shell or tree with your eyes? Ever hyper focussed on the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves, or caught the dew on a leaf first thing on a crisp cold morning and found yourself lost in it? Or felt drawn into the rain from inside just to feel the rain drops on your face? The beauty is there, and we are compelled to notice it - instinctively, biologically!
Now, imagine an ordinary day in your life. You wake up, you may grab for your phone- check the weather, read the news. Arrive at work, whether that is at home or in an office and then spend the next 5-8 hours in front of a screen or with your head down working away. Then when you get home you may unwind with the TV or YouTube, or you may even get back on to a computer. We are smothering ourselves with technology and a lot of blue light from all these screens. The truth is, most of us can’t drastically change this, we have jobs and responsibilities after all (my office doesn’t even have a window - not joking!), but what I am suggesting is really zeroing in on what IS available to us. Even if that is as simple as me bringing a plant into my windowless office, or making sure you take you work breaks and get outside when you can. It could be encouraging evening walks after dinner, or planning more time in nature on days off or at the weekend. It is awareness, and intention. I really believe embracing the simplicity of walking is the key that could really help us unlock our happiness. Our connection or reconnection with nature is worth striving for not just for ourselves, but to tap into our role as nature’s stewards as we should be working to protect our natural world and green spaces.
Five Ways to Embrace Walking in Nature!
Mindful Walking
Mindful walking is a gentle way to embrace nature while out walking and anyone can do it. As you walk, pay attention to the sensations of the body. Become more aware of your surroundings, look around and enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells. Mindful walking benefits from its simplicity and is most successful when you are simply in the moment.
Nature Journaling
Nature Journaling is wonderful way to connect both walking with appreciating and noticing the wonder of nature. Take a notebook or journal out with you on your next walk and jot down anything you notice, or you can take photos of nature to use as inspiration. The piece of advice that has helped me the most start my nature journal is that there are no rules, your journal is for you so it can literally be whatever you want it to be. Words, drawings, lists, collages, scrapbook style. Just let go and relish in letting your creativity out!
Evening Walks
I spoke last week about how much I want to take advantage of the warmer summer months and go on evening walks. It is such a gentle evening activity after a long day, when the world feel s a little calmer and you may have less of a to do list swirling around your mind. Have a little wander around your neighbourhood and see what you notice?
Long Walks/Hiking
I am planning some longer walks for the Summer, I think there is something really exciting about packing a walking bag (mostly full of snacks) and grabbing a flask of tea and taking yourself off on an adventure. A long walk or hike hits different, it is immersive. You can plan a trip to a particular destination or look up the walking trails nearby to your home, When you look you may be surprised to find there really is plenty out there to discover, even in urban environments.
My Next Long Walk:
Marriott’s Way is a 26 mile footpath, bridleway and cycle route, which follows the routes of two disused railway lines, and runs between the historic market town of Aylsham and the medieval city of Norwich.
Using your Green Spaces
Make the most of your local parks, green spaces and natural areas, whether these are in abundance on your doorstep or in smaller parks in the city, or in your garden at home. Carve out time to visit the great outdoors- sit and stay a while.
Urban Nature Journaling
SKILLSHARE COURSE
Urban Nature Journaling: 7 Days of Artistic Prompts
, Nature Illustrator
I recently completed this class on Skillshare and it was so inspiring! It was perfect for nature journaling and art beginners, and really helped demonstrate how nature even in an urban setting is abundant if you pay attention and notice.
About This Class:
In this class, nature illustrator and watercolour artist Rosalie Haizlett will transport you to the sidewalks of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to look for nature's artistic inspiration in an urban environment. Over the course of a week, she’ll offer a fun, stress-free new prompt each day to help you find, observe, and depict the natural wonders that can be found in your everyday surroundings.
Nature journaling is the practice of following where our curiosity leads in the outdoors and creatively documenting our discoveries. This activity encourages us to step away from our phones and enjoy the process of learning for the sake of learning. It allows us to discover unexpected natural treasures right in our neighbourhoods and practice our art skills at the same time.
If you would like to give Skillshare a go, follow the link below …
Substack Inspiration
There are so many amazing writer’s here on Substack that inspire me every single day! The newsletters and articles below are ones I have saved in the past about walking and/or nature… do have a read and let me know what you think!
I hope you have enjoyed this week’s Slow Sunday Letter - I really enjoyed writing it and really tuning into nature through walking. I really want to embrace this even more over the second half of this year, and get out as often as I can for walks, hikes and time in the great outdoors.
I would really love to know your thoughts and if any of this resonated with you - if you feel able, please do share in the comments.
Thank you for being here,
With Light & Love
Emily xxx
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I'm a huge fan of walking, for me it's a kind of meditation. I can't sit still and meditate but walking helps me clear my mind and reset like nothing else. I haven't tried nature journaling though - definitely interested to give this a go
I love this. I still don't like January but thus past one was the best yet since moving to a place where there are 4 seasons.