daily walk | Espirational

Lakewood Driveway
Copyright 2015 by R.A. Robbins

“Daily walk” is a phrase that is often used to describe our walk with or connection to God. And that is so very important.

For me it also has an added meaning that is a little more literal and physical but still a part of nurturing the whole of my being — body, mind and spirit. I actually go outside every morning after yoga practice and walk around the property where we live. I have to say that this is not drudgery for me. I love to walk! I am a third generation walker, following in the footsteps of my mom and grandma.

Here are a few of the reasons why I walk.

For the Love of It! Yes, I’m one of those weird people who actually thinks hoofin’ it up the hill every morning is fun. Go figure.

For My Health. I walk to stay mobile and to stay healthy. Like many people my age I have a few aches and pains, but I know it would be worse if I stopped moving. I also walk to keep my heart healthy. I walk at a rather brisk pace and recently learned that when I complete my entire route I have walked two miles. YEAH! I do not walk with the intention of losing weight, but I have dropped a few pounds recently. With less of me to haul up the hill I am enjoying walking even more. I also no longer arrive at the top panting and out of breath. 🙂

Quiet Time Surrounded by Beauty. I walk in the early morning. Most mornings are quiet around here. I might meet an occasional dog walker or person going down to the lake to fish, but many days it is just me. For about half of my walk I have the magnificent view of the lake. I can also hear the birds as I walk. This is a wonderful time to practice mindfulness by staying with the present moment as I walk.

I walk alone but if motivation is a problem for you recruit a friend, family member or even the family dog to go with you. The most important thing is to move.

Does your “daily walk” include a daily walk? There are many reasons to walk. What are a few of yours? Let me know in the comments below.

People around here know it is not unusual to see me out walking – usually more than once a day. My afternoon walk up the hill to get the mail could be considered exercise but my morning walk is something very different.

The morning walk is about connecting to Mother Earth and Father God. I walk early enough that I am usually alone. I walk at a slow to moderate pace feeling the earth beneath my feet. I breathe deeply and experience the fresh lake air (unless leaves are being burned). If I am out at sunrise I pause to take in the beauty of the rising sun. My walk usually takes me down the road to the highway (seen in todays photo) where I stop and look out over the water. Then I walk back and up the hill where I follow the loop in the road. I also stop and enjoy the view of the water from the hill. Finally I walk down the hill to the water’s edge. Sometimes I stop here to sit on the bench and pray. The morning walk is about grounding, sending roots deep into the earth like a tree while also reaching upward to connect to the Divine.

We get so busy and our attention becomes so focused we often forget to take care of not only our bodies, but our minds and spirits as well. Do yourself a favor today and take a walk. Forget about power walking and getting your heart rate up. Drop the focus and intensity level down at least a few notches. Feel the earth beneath your feet, the sky above you and the air moving around you. Connect to our Mother and Father and just be.