by Caroline Tigeress

Created on: October 28, 2009

In the early dawn of the morning, or in the setting dusk of night is when walking, for me is most valuable. You are watching either the birth, or the death of a day.

Inevitably, we all experience birth and death - these are two constants in our world, and two constants of every day. In some ways they are two constants of every waking moment, with every breath you take, you inhale the life that is our air, and the death that is our exhalations.

When we look at walking, it's a different perspective. You end up slowing things down to a snail's crawl. You are not dependent upon anyone to fill up your gas tank, to wait for the bus. You don't have to hop a train, you don't have to rush.

Walking is about patience, it's about perspective that takes our hectic lives and says, "not right now, I'm going for a walk." These things are paramount in our lives. In a world that says we must get it done now, walking tells us that we can take some time out.

As I write this, it's Autumn; a beautiful space here in the great Pacific North West. The leaves have turned to scarlet and gold, and while walking I have gathered a few interesting ones, to press and keep in one of my many, many sketch books. Perhaps some will be turned into paintings, drawings or merely admired when I am feeling blue.

Do you now understand the power of the walk? Had I been in my car, zipping along at some tremendous speed, firing down the highway, I might never have seen that interesting looking leaf. I might never have seen that friendly dog that may have been lost.

I might not have met a neighbor, although I've been living here for quite some time, that lives next door.

Walking provides us with opportunity.

Consider that our ancestors did nothing but walking. Very few of them were morbidly obese. They were aware of their surroundings, and, as any spiritual person will tell you, that is a key into life. Being aware. Doing things, feeling things. Not letting sight blind you.

Walking slows down the pace, lets you use your other senses, lets you be alive.

Then you become concerned. You take in the amount of space that people have been crammed into, suburbia, or still yet, cities that are wholly dependent upon outside input.

A bit of a scary thought.

For today, though we will focus on what we can do, and that's to take a walk, whether it be on the city streets, a park, or even in the wild. Walking is a good thing to do, for mind, body, and soul.

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