"Walk On By"

I think people underestimate the benefits of walking as exercise for both the body and the mind. When my kids were little, gyms weren’t really popular and even if they were, I wouldn’t have been able to afford to join one. I had no choice but to go walking to get in my exercise and once I started, I loved it.

When I first began, I used to put my baby(ies) into their carriage and head on out. I lived in New York at the time so we had seasons and it was my goal to walk everyday if possible. In the winter, I used to bundle us up and off we’d go for at least an hour and sometimes, I would drive to a different neighborhood for a change of scenery and adventure.

There were many times I would wait until my husband got home and go walking by myself, and sometimes I would coordinate with my neighbors/friends and we’d take a much-needed break from our children and chores. We’d share our problems and offer and receive advice and then return home to have a wine cooler and undo the calorie burn we just achieved. But it was so gratifying to share our lives on these walks and the mental reward was tremendous.

When I walked alone, I’d listen to my music and appreciate all the different houses and cooking smells emanating from them, my mind imagining the lives of the residents. I’d walk in snow and rain, cold and heat, daylight and darkness, and it was incredibly cathartic. I’d find myself bopping and slightly dancing to my music as I walked, knowing I looked like a jerk, but really not caring in the least.

Even as a child, I was fascinated as I would pass by different houses and/or apartment buildings, imagining different scenarios of the residents who lived there. Perhaps there was always a writer in me, even as a child, but I was awed by the number of people in the world who go home every day and live a life we assume is similar to ours, but may very well not be.

I have smiled and danced on my walks and at other times frowned and cried, my mood and music choices dictating the outcome. I’d walk until my legs were almost numb, but my problems were somewhat released or at least at bay by the time I was done. Walking really is the best therapy, so cathartic. And so important, especially as we age, as it keeps us limber and strengthens our bones. It’s also good for our hearts and helps us sleep better.

So, if you see me swaying to a music you can’t hear as you drive by, just give me a wave and if I notice, I’ll certainly be embarrassed, but will definitely wave back.