For over one year now I have committed to walking 10,000 steps a day. Yes, I have missed the odd day, and yes it has transformed my life. I am fitter, happier and healthier. I absolutely love the opportunity to get out and walk.
For most of the past year I have listened to music as I walk. While I was walking around Naseby tracks and trails I began to notice that I would return from a walk and I could not tell you much I what I saw, heard, smelt or felt during the walk. This got me thinking, was music distracting me from the act of walking? Was it blocking the reality of walking?
I tried a couple of walks in silence. I sure did notice more. I noticed the colours, the sounds, the smells and the feel of the breeze, or sun. However I got back from these walks totally recalling the walking, the length, duration, steps, and some of the JOY of walking was missing. I persevered and found that walking in silence wasn't necessarily working for me either.
Yesterday I caught up with Rowan and she talked about podcasts. For the longest time I have been meaning to download podcasts, and last night I did.
Today I listened to a podcast as I walked.
WOW
I walked far further, and jogged far more than I realised. I was in the moment of walking, jogging, listening to inspiraitonal talks from the TED Radio Hour.
Today I listened to "Being Happy" and "Headspace". Both of them delighted and inspired me. This also got me thinking. Maybe the secret is in mixing up my walking. Maybe I can walk in silence in the beauty of the tracks and nature, listen to music in the busy town streets, intersperesed with listening to podcasts. My takeaway from today is that whatever I am doing I need to focus on what I am doing. Being fully present to what I am doing. "Stop, listen, go", a very cool phrase from my podcast from the Ted Talk "Want to be happy, be grateful".
I am really excited about the potential for learning, thinking and reflecting while walking...
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