Out of the Clear Blue of the Western Sky Comes . . .

-Walking?-

Over a decade ago I chose to begin a walking regimen. It had occurred to me, at some point I do not recall, how much I loved walking as a kid and, later, as a backpacker. I hiked through California and Oregon as a twenty-something after Vietnam but had to stop that once married and I became a father. I don’t count myriad camping trips with the family.

It was 2014 that I began walking and that is when I rediscovered how much I loved it and how much I had missed it. Initially, I walked around a mile, give or take. Then two or three and then seven as I got my legs back into shape. I knew I was hooked when I walked in the pouring rain and bitter cold of the winter. Weather didn’t matter as I was moving, seeing, and away from the TV, the news, and gossip about this, that and the other. I was by myself and a person should never discount how being solo with one’s brain functioning and how easy it is to sort the annoyances of life out in that time.

I am sitting down here after 3 1/2 miles just today. This came to mind because it seems that just simple walking isn’t something people do much as adults any longer. Truthfully, I drive a Jeep JK two door and that is always fun even when not offroad. It is a six speed manual so I actually have to pay attention to revs and shifting which means I can’t drift off into la-la land while on the road. I can drift off into la-la land walking through the sorting of the past few days or the entirety of my life.

I write this as a recommendation because I don’t have to know you personally to understand the stress you are feeling with current events. If you aren’t stressed then you need to begin thinking about your life more.

Get out, take off your day, and hang it on the hook in the front hall and go walk. You will thank me for recommending it. It is simple, all your choice, and you can go alone or with one you love. Just do it.

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