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......

[Eagle Ray]

Hello Shell,

The small birds you describe might be welcome swallows. They look black when they are darting about but actually have some dark blue, tan and beige in them. I’m just guessing that’s what they are from your description as a breakwall is exactly the kind of place they like to hang out. They are incredibly swift and are catching tiny insects in the air we are not usually aware of. I’ve photographed them when sitting still but haven’t been able to capture them in flight with their super swiftness. They often build nests in human structures such as barns or under the eaves of houses. They have a sweet call of cute noises that they chatter away with.

I empathise with the comprehending and concentrating. I just got a referral to a neurologist yesterday as it was more than a year ago that it got really bad for me, then it improved for a long time but has relapsed now. I’m using things like photography to focus me and I start to feel like my brain co-ordinates then. In my case it’s almost definitely part of my liver condition in which substances are crossing the blood-brain barrier.

But if you are feeling overwhelmed that can definitely affect comprehension and concentration. If you can find activities you love doing and you go into a kind of flow state with, I think that can help. It’s like focussed creativity gets the brain connections going, reinforcing healthy pathways and networks. And even just being immersed in calming, peaceful environments can help to settle overactive parts of the brain and nervous system.

 I hope you are going ok. If symptoms persist you could see a GP to investigate. It’s nice to hear you are still doing your walks. Take care.

[Eagle Ray]

Hi Shell, Dools and All,

Late this afternoon I went out with my raincoat and umbrella as it was still raining. However, it cleared before long and the wind dropped. I walked down the hill and through bushland. There are lots of swampy areas that have filled up and are full of frogs. I stopped to listen to the frogs at one swampy puddle and noticed one of the biggest grass trees I’ve seen growing out of it. Cows were lowing in paddocks not far away, echoing across the landscape.

Some yellow hibbertia and wattle flowers have already come out, like a very early sign of the spring that is to come. I saw a sundew that’s climbing its way up through a grass tree. Black cockatoos flew over and I met a man with a hyper-energetic one year old kelpie whom I patted. The sun came out briefly and lit the tops of the trees in golden light. I also found a fast flowing stream.

 I walked further than I have in a while. For the last third I felt like I just wanted to lay down on the side of the track and go to sleep. I’m testing myself against what I can handle as my body is quite weak, but I’m still very glad I got out in the fresh air, saw lots of different things and got exercise. It should help me with sleep tonight.

[Doolhof]

Hi Eagle Ray, Shell and all Reading,

Your walk sounds lovely Eagle Ray, being aware of everything around and the changing season. I like the sound of frogs. Hope you did sleep well. 

I went for a walk this morning and felt rather tired half way along, like you I wanted to curl up and have a sleep somewhere. I sat on a bench for a while near a pond and listened to the birds for a while until I had the energy to get home again.

[Guest_1055]

Hi Mrs D, Eagle Ray

It is so great you are getting out there in the fresh air and noticing all the beauty around you. Good on you.

Yes Eagle Ray I believe I am overwhelmed with stuff going on, as well as my brain is always thinking. I overthink situations , relationships etc. As well as not eating the foods that help me, and I am working on sleep still. This all affects my concentration and understanding. Its like my brain cannot hold any more ... Overload.. Confusion... Emotions are like giants so those cloud out logical thoughts. I feel quite confused about some things going on.

However 

I walked down the street in another suburb yesterday. I could smell hot oil from the takeaway chicken shop on the corner. I was walking to a course/ counselling session with my sister. The session was inside one of the rooms in what looked like a historical building. After that we walked further down this street, on our way to the organic shop which has a organic cafe inside it. This is one of my favourite cafes. I bought this potato and cauliflower salad which I am going to copy and make at home. I also bought some agar agar from the shop.

Walked back to my car after that. Lovely

[Eagle Ray]

Hi Dools, Shell and All,

Dools, sitting down to have a rest and just listen to the birds is a good idea. I hope you have been able to do some other walks or have rests in nature. It's like nature kind of holds you when you need it.

Shell, I love this sentence of yours:

Emotions are like giants so those cloud out logical thoughts.

That is such a poetic way of expressing how emotions loom so large. It's also really helpful as a visualisation. My emotions are large at the moment so it helped me imagine a giant and then shrinking that giant down to a manageable size. That way the emotions are less scary! Thank you. It's great you are doing a course with your sister.

My walk today was in a forest area I often visit. I had my camera and saw plenty of wrens and robins. I didn't get any good photos but that didn't matter as it is just a beautiful place to be. Several times a robin came so close I couldn't focus my telephoto lens in such close proximity. So I have photos of a blurry robin filling the frame. The light was beautiful with it being sunny all day but that winter light that is softer.

[Doolhof]

Hi Shell, Eagle Ray and to all reading,

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Shell, it really can be a struggle when our emotions are like giants, I like Eagle Rays thoughts on this as well. I had a vision of a mean and angry looking giant all puffed up with negative emotions, then I took a pin to it like a balloon and popped it! I know releasing tough emotions is not that easy. I like the image though! It helped me.

Yesterday I had a walk in a conservation park with my sister. We were very thrilled to see a scarlet robin (we are presuming) it had a bold red head as well as chest and was so bright flittering about in the scrub. The grass was a vibrant green and looked so lush. We saw multiple kangaroos. 

On closer inspection we found some winter orchids in just the one place, a few other flowering plants and only a few fungi as that region has not had much rain.

I had chosen that particular place to walk as it is relatively flat and not so consuming of energy. We were also protected from the wind in most of the park due to the abundance of bushes and trees. It was lovely and refreshing.

[Eagle Ray]

Hi Dools, Shell and Everyone,

Dools, I like the balloon popping visualisation. In my case the giant shrunk to a size smaller than me and I could tell him not to bother me with those big emotions. It made me feel like I had some control. I see scarlet robins too sometimes in this region. I know there is also a red-capped robin which has the additional red on its head, so possibly that was what you saw today? It's lovely you saw some winter orchids.

I initially walked in an area of tall forest I hadn't been into for a long time. There were quite a few small birds in the understorey. I got a few photos of a grey fantail. They were underexposed because of issues I was having with my camera, but it did create a kind of interesting effect where the part of the fantail in sunlight was showing while everything else was in darkness, including the other half of its body. It looks like an arty effect but was not intentional.

I then went on to a coastal area. I walked over a limestone ridge to another bay that was more sheltered and sat on the beach for a while. The water was a beautiful turquoise there and quite calm and flat, gently lapping on the shore. It looked like it would be nice for swimming but I'm sure the water would have been quite cold. I walked back over the ridge and accidentally disturbed a nankeen kestrel which is a small bird of prey. I think he was a male from his colouring. He moved a bit further away. We looked at each other for a bit and I took a few photos but then walked back the other way so as not to disturb him. I saw one hunting in this location only last Wednesday and think it was him. It takes a lot of energy for them to hunt and they need their rest between hunting efforts. I remember learning that black kites, another bird of prey, need to be successful in one out of every seven hunting efforts in order to keep alive. I got to hold a black kite on my arm at the wildlife place where I learned that. So today I wanted to respect the nankeen kestrel and leave him peacefully in his resting location.

[Doolhof]

Hi Everyone,

Eagle Ray, I enjoy reading your stories about the birds you see on your walks and appreciate your knowledge. I have a small bird book here, so should have a look in it now and then. When I spot birds now, I wonder what they actually are and how they would look in a photograph. Many are too distant for a shot on my mobile phone camera.

Hi Shell, hope yo are doing well. I enjoy reading about your walks and what you se and experience along the way.

Recently I only had time for a short walk in an area I really wanted to be in. An appointment had run late and I had to be somewhere else. It takes me an hour to drive there along country roads.

I made the most of my 20 minutes. I enjoyed the little trickling ditch of water, there were pine trees in the back ground and a variety of native shrubs and a few gum trees spotted about the place.

I listened to the frogs and birds, took in the radiant green colour of the grass, saw some kangaroos in the tall dry grass/reeds and watched as they twitched their ears. 

There was a small pool in one area with a gum tree reflected in the water, it looked so peaceful and calm there.

When I return that way I will try to ensure I have more time for a decent walk.

[Doolhof]

Hi All,

I might not be going for a walk this morning, it is pouring with rain and the wind is blowing. Not a nice combination without waterproof pants!

Yesterday I went on a familiar walk. The path was not so muddy as I had expected. There was a little sunshine and little wind. The paddocks were a brilliant green and I could see some sheep in the distance, a group of lambs were running around together looking like they were playing chasey.

I stopped to catch my breathe and saw a flash of red. I was thrilled to see a robin with a red breast, it was some distance away and kept flittering about so I couldn't get a good look at it front on. There were magpies and a few crows as well. A small flock of chirping parrots flew past me.

It was a calming walk.

[Guest_1055]

I also appreciate your knowledge on all things birds Eagle Ray. And your obvious love for them and all living creation. It has inspired me to learn more about birds.

Gosh lambs are cute Mrs D. Thankyou Mrs D I am unsure if I am well or not. I feel a bit lost, confused and not real. But then have moments of anger and frustration at myself for not being who I am supposed to be. But don't even know who that is. Very weird. 

Anyway I walked yesterday on the breakwall. At a slow pace to keep up with someone else. It was beautiful out with a blue sky and crisp air at times. We saw black dolphins arching out of the water in the port. And a grey one diving in and out of a wave on the ocean side. I would like to touch one one day.