Walking Shoes - Walking and Other Exercise

Guest_1055 · ‎27-01-2016

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......

Shell4

What a beautiful early morning out on the breakwall . It is like my very soul felt the beauty within.

Sounds weird saying that , but I had tears in my eyes because of this emotion. The air felt crisp, fresh and clear. I noticed the chill on my face, which says to me you are indeed alive. But the rest of my body felt warmed.

To the left of me was the sand dunes some with vegetation some bare. The bare ones reminded of the surface of the moon. Images I have seen of the moon. The time was somewhere between first light and sunrise. So the bare dunes were not bright with sunlight and not dark either.

Shell4

Part 2

I walked along noticing how calm the water looked on the port side. It was not rough like the other day. I saw piles of dry driftwood up further. There were a few runners out . I looked carefully at the shoes as one ran by, well actually she was walking quite briskly. I was looking because my shoes are starting to feel thin on the soles of them.

I noticed the lighthouse up on top of lighthouse hill. All visible in first light. It stood nice and straight and tall up there. The gates down at the bottom were not open yet. I thought they may open later on because I think it was a public holiday today.

Looking down I could see sections of sand on the path and could sort of feel it on the bottom of my shoes as I walk along. Amongst all this I heard the noise of a speed boat bouncing along on the water as it made its way out. I turned my eyes towards it.

I kept walking along then heard pigeons near this small tallish building on the right. It is an old building, always locked up. I am curious to know what is inside but the window is high up. I could not see pigeons but I definitely heard them. My senses tuned in to other birds too especially on the way back. I heard seagulls, two of them just above me. I looked up to check , they were simply just flying low and free. I heard some chirping of another bird, a tiny one.

Shell4

Part 3

Once I got to the end of the breakwall, I could see the soft pale yellowish light of the sun poking up beyond the horizon. There was a little cloud so I thought it may take a bit longer. The soft yellow light was mixed in with the clouds in strips. So beautiful. Because I thought it may take a bit longer, I turned around and headed back. But then stopped near some rocks and turned to face it again. I stood there a little while facing the light and hearing the water gently splashing/ lapping beside and down. I felt a calming feeling just simply listening to that. I decided to turn back around and walk back to the point, closest to the sun rising. Once at the end I noticed two guys with a camera on a tripod facing the horizon. A couple of other people were also facing that way, myself as well. I know it is a sunrise and it happens every day. But to meet it arriving early in the morning is ...well there is not many words to describe the event. But it made me happy to see it. I watched first a little poke through slowly then the ball of intense light was fully seen. I looked to the side of it because I know it helps our circadian whatever that is called ( helps to regulate sleep patterns) and I believe vitamin D levels as well.

After some time I walk back to the beginning of the break wall. And I kept walking beyond that . Past the beach kiosk. Past other people and past some dogs.

I was walking along this path now looking over the rail at times. And then deep in thought about a variety of circumstances and issues that I had been through and facing currently. Some pleasant things I had been through and then some not so pleasant. And then I would look over the rail again. Or spot another dog. So many dogs now out and about with their humans. One sausage dog was being pushed in one of those cart things that attach to a bike . And another was attached to a lead that their human was holding. I like looking at their low tummies almost touching the ground. Super cute. I walked past the ocean baths, around the corner then I was walking beside a different beach.

Shell4

Part 4

This particular one is popular and the kiosk here is open quite early. Tons of people were hanging around conversing with others, drinking most likely coffee. Some were sitting on the wide long step facing the ocean. One guy had a book and was reading it. A child was sitting on the legs of perhaps their daddy. People we sitting on the picnic tables above just near the kiosk. Anyway you may get the drift. This area was packed full of people. But then it slowly disperses until there is hardly anyone. This is where I was headed, to the quietness. I made my way through the people in the small gaps. I walked past the skate park and there wasn't anyone using it. I kept on going for sometime then sat down on a beach timber seat that faced the ocean. I looked at the waves, looked at the rail/ fence noticing a tiny babies sock just resting there. I myself resting there for a while. Every now and then I would look again towards the sun which was indeed higher in the sky.

I started to head back. And also started some deep breathing . When I was almost back to the beginning of this walk, I noticed another dog walking along with three humans. It was a small dog as it walked, l I only saw the back of him, his tail was wagging in a happy way. His whole little body just simply looked happy as it walked with like a spring it is legs. And it kept looking up at the humans first to the right up at the man holding his lead. Then to the left up at the other two people. What a happy engaging dog.

I did feel like this walk was almost like a mini holiday in my head. I was so switched on to what was around me most of the time. Also I drank an iced mocha from Hungry Jacks beforehand so I felt the spike in energy for sure. And it may well of helped clear my head or gave me more alertness for a few hours. So this my be the reason I was so intune with what was around me..I can only have caffeine every now and then and only early in the morning.

A bit of an adventure this particular walk. Thankful that I went and experienced all the beauty that was around me.

Shell4

Went for a walk down at the rec yesterday. Around the perimeter of the 2 ovals

Shell4

Meet up with my sister and as we chatted we walked 3 times around a park. It took us around 2 hours.

We paused many times on one such pause it was because 2 great danes were out walking with their human. The girl was only a little bigger then the dog. That was interesting to see. There were a few dogs out . A sausage dog. And a few others that I don't know the breed of.

Another pause was to look at a spider hanging in the air between a tree and whatever was on the other side. I am guessing it has a very long web right across the path we were walking on. It was early night when my sister noticed it.