Let's Go For A Walk

“These boots were made for walkin’ and that’s just what they’ll do. One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.”

Not sure why I started with this line. A catch cry from a popular song made famous by Nancy Sinatra and years later rereleased by Jessica Simpson. It seems somewhat of a power statement and a forced message of authority.

What about the power of walking? Taken for granted, a walk whether it be with someone or in solitude can provide an incredibly healing process. There has been a handful of times in my life whereby a walk has helped ease an emotional time. Given clarity to a pending decision. Helped breathe air into lungs and a body that may have drowned in alcohol or grief the24 hours previous.

I have just finished reading ‘The Top Five Regrets Of The Dying’. Written by Bronnie Ware, it is a fascinating account into the world of palliative care. Ware writes about her varied clients who all share the common misfortune of being on their deathbeds. The lessons are annoyingly obvious. Don’t die with regret. Heal personal relationships. Be kinder to yourself. Annoying, obvious yet true.

‘Harry’ was one who resonated with me. He would repeatedly tell Bronnie that you must make time for friends. Quality time. And In turn find quality friends. Sometimes when you come across sage advice at first you panic, analysing immediately whether you fit the bill. Other occasions after nimble assessment you realise that perhaps you are ticking some of the boxes. To concur with messages from the dying is humbling and satisfying all at once. The challenge is to immerse oneself in the mantra and adopt the mindset before it is too late.

My daily habit of a beach walk with the dogs and then a plunge into the Southern Ocean with others supports Harry’s counsel. Quality time with quality friends. What galvanises this ritual is the elements we face regarding weather and water temperature. It heightens our senses and awareness to what is around with the silent connection as the common denominator.

Harry also had a love for walking as did the author. Among their story sharing Bronnie even regaled about a sabbatical from her job to enjoy a 6-day healing walk. It is walking where I see so many relationships and quality time being shared. There’s a group of middle-aged men. Older men who walk or upon closer observation waddle. Younger women “power walking”. Twos, Threes and many more jogging, running even sprinting. Except for the latter there is always a delightful cloud of conversation immersing from these collectives. A laugh, a story, an observation. The walk or the physical exercise simply becomes an unconscious background. It is the experience and the company that takes precedent.

Similarly, I sense the power in those walking on their own. There are plenty I come across. Ken and his beautiful dog Rupert. Seeing these 2 is like clockwork. Another Ken who charges along the beach more often in the heavier sand. A lovely lady who walks and then cycles nearby. Pending the assembly of friends each morning quite often I may start the walk on my own. Once I would use the opportunity to rifle through the phone catching up on overnight news or click bait scandal from the social world. I might throw headphones on for 8-10 minutes until the other guys would meet up on the return leg. I appreciate now it is a perfect time to just walk. Feel the sand give way underneath. Watch my dogs sniff, scratch, and snarl at anything the ocean has spat on to the shore overnight. Look up and smell the sea air, feel the wind or sun bite my face. I think, I ponder, I simply be as I keep walking.

Nature is something I have always loved. Maybe growing up on a rural setting has led to this fascination. Whatever the reason water is a big part of my life. Not one to delve into the horoscopes, apart from the odd glance at the newspaper to correlate the day I am having or “want” to have, I do understand that Cancerians have a strong affinity for water. I live by a river. Grew up by a creek and now bathe in the ocean daily. I am almost delirious when I hear rain on the roof. I am a proud crab. This may be the reason I have felt the most inner peace in my journey to date.

Being grateful for all these elements only drives you to seek more. Another close friend and I are planning an ascent on Mt Kosciusko, Australia’s highest peak. Last year we conquered our own state Victoria’s vertical beacon, Mt Bogong. We were blessed with stunning climbing conditions and therefore clear skies. The heavenly view atop the summit was something I will never forget. A small moment of triumph but predominantly a feeling of freedom and insight. I am not overly religious but that day among the clouds I felt closer to something.

Nature, walking and friends can all help us escape the monotony of our daily grind. Actor Dax Shepherd’s first guest on his podcast ‘Armchair Experts’ was the man who helped kick start his showbiz career, the teen sensation Ashton Kutcher. You could be forgiven for thinking Kutcher to be as aloof as his character in the iconic movie ‘Dude Where’s My Car’. Today he is wealthy beyond his means from acting, producing, and investing. A fascinating insight during the podcast was after a major relationship breakdown, I’m assuming his divorce from Demi Moore, he retreated to Montana into the wilderness for a week in the mountains with nothing but water and a journal. The expedition returned him focused, renewed and as it turned out unstoppable.

Who knows what a walk, a climb or a dip in the ocean may do for you and or your friends?

A nature bath awaits you. Time to jump in.