How comforting it is to walk

​I feel like sometimes we’re so overwhelmed and have such a long to-do list that we go through life on autopilot. Our legs move quickly as we walk, but our minds are racing so fast that we’re not taking each step consciously—to the point where we don’t even feel what we’re doing; we just walk, and that’s it. But the truth is that this can become an activity that, beyond just happening out of habit, can actually do us a lot of good.

​In my case, I really enjoy walking, especially when the weather is cool and I’m in a beautiful place where I can take in everything around me. From my perspective, walking the right way can even help you emotionally. When I’m feeling down about something, going out for a walk has really helped me calm down a bit—but of course, it’s not just about walking a long distance; it’s about doing it mindfully.

So when I do it, I’m not rushing, nor am I ignoring my feet; instead, I take each step consciously, in sync with my breathing. I’m not going to say I do this every time I go out, but I can say that when I need to, I do, and it does me a world of good. Even though I live in an area surrounded by many houses and buildings, I make an effort to look for something beautiful to see as I walk—whether it’s a bird, a plant in a garden, or even the shape of the clouds.

And I find it crazy how the world is in such a rush and so desperate to get to a place they don’t even know where it is—to the point that sometimes people judge you for taking the time to simply walk and consciously observe your surroundings, because in the eyes of many, it might seem like a waste of time. But in order to be well and do the things you need to do, you always have to stop and be aware of your surroundings—otherwise, you might fall into the trap that so many do: losing sight of what’s truly important and making “having more and more” your priority.

​Yes, walking may be a fairly common activity that everyone does without even thinking about it, but I can say that it’s an activity that has saved my life. My husband and I—whenever we’ve gone through really tough times—our first instinct is to go out for a walk. When we lived in Amazonas, it was incredible because we could simply appreciate the nature around us, but since we’ve learned to adapt now that we live in the city, we’ve kept up our walking routine—only now we’ve developed the ability to discover what to see as we feel each step we take.