Walking Shoes - Walking and Other Exercise

[Guest_1055]

Hey to anyone reading this.

Last night I had an idea about starting a new thread about exercise especially walking. I am aware that walking is very beneficial for our mental, emotional and physical well being. And by actually doing it....well it can make a huge difference to how we cope with the storms that we face in life.

OK, I am not real good at disciplining myself to walk, and have to really push myself to do it. And sometimes it is even hard to leave this bedroom. Anyway I am not a beginner walker, as I have stuck to sort of a plan before. So I know that it does make me feel somewhat better. But I only stayed on the plan for a couple of months, then gave up.....for whatever reason. So here I am again wanting desperately to not fail this time.

So I guess this thread is for anyone that does walk, anyone that is struggling to walk because of depression or anxiety issues. And anyone else really......

I am unsure of the outcome of all this. But my ideas included: Sharing about things we have found out about exercise especially about walking. Writing down the reasons that one would chose to walk ( like something to help motivate). Being accountable in same way. Sharing about the places where we actually do walk, like the beach, gym, around the block, with the dog, out to the clothesline and back. And any other useful tips that could help others. So here we go......

[Guest_1055]

What an adventurous life that man must have living under a bridge. Adventurous as is very different to my life. So very nice you talked to him though. Human connection can help us so much.

And yes perhaps the ducks are getting used to seeing and hearing you. There was a tiny duckling just wandering around inside the service station near me one night. He was pretty cute, but I think looking for his family. The guy working there helped him. When I walk in the neighbourhood with my son at night, we may pop in the service station as he buys ice coffees from there. The drinks are marked down in price at night so it seems. At one such time is when we saw the cute little duck.

The idea of walking in the early hours like you do appeals to me. I do remember it ,a feeling of the day is waking up. Working at sleep issues at the moment, so hopefully I will be able to walk earlier. 

Pretty sure the large shopping centre near me is open early. And there is group that walk in there.

Also yes IKEA is such huge place. I have been to the one in Sydney. Definitely a good place to walk around in the heat of the day. I bought a collection of large glass containers for the open pantry at our place. Did you buy anything or just looking around

[Guest_1055]

Yesterday I went walking in a super large park. With my sister. It had been years since I had been there, infact it had changed a lot since then. It is lined partly with old tall thick trunked trees that cast a lot of shade. So walking in those sections was so nice and cool. 

[Guest_1055]

Just about to walk out on the breakwall. Working at just getting outside and walking more. Even it is slower then years gone by. I am visualising myself being fit, healthy and enjoying just being outside. And how thankful I am to be alive. 

[Doolhof]

Hi Guest_1055 and All reading,

There were lots of things in Ikea I would have liked to have bought! I was also trying hard not to have a panic attack in there as the twists and turns and no idea where the exit was did my head in now and then. When I was stating to feel overwhelmed, I stopped, really looked at the produce in front of me and thought about how I could use it. I then looked around to see which way other people were going and tried to find the direction markers on the floor!

I did make a purchase, a coffee table to use out the front of the house and in the patio area. Very useful and at a reasonable price.

Most mornings I am awake at 2.30 or 3.30 and force myself to stay in bed until 5.00 a.m. Getting up early for a walk is not a hassle for me! The sun rise this morning was glorious once more. I saw a couple of kangaroos as well. The early morning glow on the dried out crops looked effective against the sky.

[Doolhof]

I had another walk before dawn, the pre dawn light was soft and subtle. I saw kangaroos in the next door neighbours paddock. The sheep were slowly shuffling along in the stubble, I wonder if their feet are hard enough to stop the crisp stalks of the crop from poking into their flesh. 

Some little black birds were taking a ride on the backs of some of the sheep. 8 pigeons formed almost a circle on the dirt road all facing each other, they looked like they were at a meeting or having a chin wag with each other.

The sunrise was a tiny burst of bright orange with the sun rising like a glowing ball of dark orange to start then it faded to yellow and white.

I noticed the bull ants were very busy so tried to avoid standing amongst them when I stopped to admire the view. I found a cut down tree to sit on while I read an email from a dear friend, I took a photo of where I had been sitting to share with her, and some of the surrounding paddocks.

Another lovely walk.

[Guest_1055]

Hi Mrs D, I imagined the sheep 🐑🐑 wandering around in the paddock, some with blackbirds riding on their backs. Don't know if it hurts their feet. Do they have wool on them still? The sun rising like you described it sounds absolutely beautiful.

Yes the IKEA I went to as well know that you mentioned it had many ways you could walk around inside it. Paths leading in many directions. You did good the way you handled a possible panic attack whilst you were in there. The last sort of panic attack I had , someone prayed for me. I was so very overwhelmed with emotion ( like a giant) Realised God is bigger then the panic attack and more powerful too. He restored me to peace. I couldn't do it. 

Thankyou for sharing about your walk Mrs D, I enjoyed reading. 

[Doolhof]

Hello there Guest and All,

Yes, the sheep do still have their wool in this particular paddock. They are a filthy brown colour on their backs and a dirty grey/brown  elsewhere, it would be amazing to see how much dirt comes out of a fleece. This morning some of the sheep were trying to access a small dam. I managed to take a photo of them without scaring them away.

I saw a few groups of galahs heading north, not sure what the attraction up that way is for them.

The clouds were amazing this morning, very different formations, little balls of white fluff on top, the bottom part grey and when the sun came up the base of the clouds was a delightful purple, then reddish and pink colour. 

I'm so please you have been able to feel the power and calmness of God in your life, especially so regarding panic attacks. They really can be quite debilitating! I'm sure I was sending up little prayers and looking for a  solution! It is amazing just how interesting a wooden spoon can be when you try to give it all of your attention. I do recall having a panic attack in Ikea before due tot he nature of the store and feeling like you can't exit until you reach the very end. 

My walk again this morning was a wonderful way to start the day. 

[Guest_1055]

 Hello

Oh how I understand the detail of a wooden spoon. Focusing on something else outside of what's going on inside us sort of thing.

Ok the sheep I imagined before were white. Not sure I have seen dirty ones. But I suppose that is natural for them, when there is so much dust around and no one takes the fleece of them.

The clouds you described too with the sun coming up sounds absolutely beautiful. I really got to get up earlier here where I am. I am working on it..that is sleeping habits.

Enjoyed reading about your walk again Mrs D

[Guest_1055]

I went for a walk twice on the breakwall yesterday. You mostly always see dogs running and having such care free fun on the doggie beach. At the beginning of the breakwall you can look over a rail and below, that is where the doggie beach is. 

On the second walk I got  sprayed with water on my back as a wave splashed up high over the rocks onto the path wall. Nothing unusual though. The people behind us got drenched. May have been tourists I think. It can feel refreshing on a hot day though. But if you are not expecting such a high splash you can feel shocked by it. They were checking their phones for damage. The people seemed fine. Just startled.

[Guest_1055]

Tonight I walked up the street with me son.

Yesterday I hopped on a ferry and caught it across the port. It doesn't take very long ... properly about 5 minutes. Once we arrived on the other side ( the city side) I could hear music coming from the large restaurant near the water. It sounded like a concert. We walked past it and along the path following the water. Then we found a seat and read from a book called untangling emotions. We did a while chapter. Whilst sitting there, 2 small dogs sitting in baskets on 2 bikes past us. They were just sooo cute. And appeared to be enjoying their ride. After a while we kept walking all the way up to the breakwall. We didn't walk the whole length of it, because we needed to make the next ferry back. It was just a bit different catching the ferry, something that we don't normally do,it f lt a bit like a holiday .