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]

Sitting in the car in the car park after walking on the breakwall path again. Not much different happening out there today.

Though I did really notice the soft calming splash as the gentle waves hit the rocks on the port side. It just felt soothing.

And a large group of people were in a semi circle, which looked like they were trying to work out where to stand for a photo. They took up majority of the path. With just a small gap for people to get past. The water did look pretty today in their background.

[Doolhof]

Hi Shell,

Life has been a bit all over the place lately. Walking has been one of the constants that sometimes helps me feel more grounded and like I am doing something beneficial for myself.

I did get to the beach today for a walk. The sea was calm with barely any waves. The skies looked dark and stormy but no rain.

There has been some sand dredging, as I sat right up on the beach near the sand banks, I saw a lot of tiny little shells obviously dumped there by the sand carting. I collected a few, so small yet so perfect.

Tomorrow I will hopefully go for a walk at sunrise again. Recently the farmers were burning off the stubble so the air smelt like burnt grass and scorched soil.

Hope you are doing okay Shell.

Cheers from Mrs. D

[Guest_1055]

Forgot how busy it can get on the breakwater path on a Saturday. Ah yeah lots of people but I still walked, keeping mostly to the edges of the path..

I noticed sounds all around me, more so than normal. I heard the chug de chug of a skateboard going over the joins in the path. It reminded me of the noise that a train makes when you are a passenger going slowly through the city.

I heard all different types of foot steps as people where walking or running behind me. And some scuffing footsteps in the loose sand on the path as well.

I heard a very soft tweet tweet from some bird in the shrubs. I heard conversions, even faint words coming from 2 people kayaking in the port.

Quite a few dogs walking with their owners , but I did not hear any barks at all. Which is unusual for that area.

3 people where just walking out from the sand dunes heading for the path. One was a photography sort of wearing their camera around their neck, whilst holding it. Then there was a mum to be wearing a beautiful white flowing dress with a baby bump. Guessed they had a photoshoot on the dunes.

Such a diversity of people out. Guess I was people watching a lot too whilst walking. Did see a tiny butterfly though.

[Guest_1055]

Yeah I guess I am doing ok in some areas, better in others , struggling some with comfort eating. But I am slowly learning that I just cannot do this life without God and I don't even want to either. Do you know the verse.. I think it says "apart from Me, you can do nothing" well this seems to apply to me at this time in my life. Wish I could explain it more in words.

Anyways.. Did you end up walking at sunrise Mrs D? Its often so beautiful at that time isn't it. Its great you are keeping up with walking. And it is helpful for you. Being outside and all as well.

[Guest_1055]

I felt so invigorated as I walked in the early evening. The light of the day was fading. Beautiful. And I felt the cold air on my face. I love all that. It really wakes me up.

[Doolhof]

Hi Shell,

I don't always manage to go for a walk at sunrise, some mornings are prettier than others.

Yesterday I had a lovely walk in the bush and near some water, it was very calming and relaxing.

Yes, the verse you were referring to is one I recognise. Some days I struggle to feel connected to God, walking in a place where I am surrounded by nature and the peaceful sounds of creation does help.

I might go for a long walk this afternoon as I am struggling with some issues that keep resurfacing and I don't know how to deal with them anymore.

Cheers to you Shell and all reading, from Dools

[Guest_1055]

Today I walked in a place where I hadn't walked before. It was north from my place. A couple of hours drive away.

We walked from a resort, down a hill some, then along a path which was bordered with leafy trees and a few hanging branches. Then crossed over a wide highway to another path. And continued to walk along that for a while. I didn't notice a lot around me on this path because we chatted a bit.

Later on we walked on this jetty that pointed out into a beautiful lake. I quite liked this jetty, because it had character to it. It was constructed mostly from timber. Some of the timber blanks were wobbly as you walked over them. Sort of rattled a bit. Then there were gaps then you needed to step over. On the end of the jetty it looked a little more modern. Not sure what we were walking on though in that section.

Anyways as you look over the lake you see mountains, a national park I think it was. On the lake itself were a few boats and a lone pelican. The pelican had such round eyes. I watched it swim amongst the reeds. I saw its feet paddling even. There were a few mangroves growing along the bank as well. Looking over this lake was sort of calming.

We headed back the way we come and peered into the glass doors of the local community centre. I was just feeling curious. It looked all closed up though.

A tiny bit later we walked to the beach, passing houses on the right and dense bushland on the left. There were a few puddles of water on the road and some muddy sections. I quite like stuff like that too. It just makes it more interesting.

We headed down the sandy path to he beach. From there towards the water. We walked in the water some, which felt invigorating. Always like the feel of refreshing water on my feet. I looked down, there were a few tiny shells. Not many though.

Nearing the end of this beach, there was dark looking water flowing into the ocean. Like a tiny stream. The person who I was with giggled at what looked like a pair of blue shorts just moving along in the flow. I guess it did look funny. And it was great to hear her laugh like that. We did not want to walk in that water.

We walked back then.

[Guest_1055]

Wish I could help you with the struggles Mrs D. Somehow. I don't always feel connected to God either. But how I long to be.

And true walking when the sun rises isn't always beautiful. I am guessing when the trucks come along on that road kicking up the dust, well that is not what you call beautiful is it. And some days, one is just so heavy with sadness, troubles etc it can be challenge to let the beauty in. For me, if I am out walking I may not notice anything at all that looks good, if bogged down with other stuff. It just does not register in my brain or something.

You do sound down Mrs D. Please don't feel pressured to reply to me or anything. Wish I could help

[Doolhof]

Dear Shell,

Thanks for your kind words, I really appreciate them. I am struggling at present and am trying to keep on going.

I so enjoyed your description of your walk as well, so many different things to see and experience.

I didn't end up walking yesterday but did go down the back of our block and cut off a lot of dead branches and hauled them into piles, ready to cart into a stack for a bonfire when the fire danger has reduced in our area.

It is raining here, first time in months! I am trying to find some enthusiasm for a walk in the rain. Not sure it is going to happen! I need to buy a more waterproof rain jacket! Last time walking in the rain I returned wet and cold.

Tomorrow it will be nice to go walking in the bush somewhere after the rains have freshened everything up.

Cheers to you Shell from Dools

[Doolhof]

Hi Shell and all reading,

I did end up going for a walk this morning. It would have been so easy to just stay home, I encouraged myself to get out and to wander along some streets in our small town instead of out on the main roads. It was blowing a gale and raining so quite invigorating.

I noticed some of the gum trees were in flower and a wattle bush was just a mass of yellow. I tried to take a photo of some of the flowers, but the branches were blowing around too much.

An old home is for sale so I will Google that as I am curious to see what it looks like inside! Some of the gardens looked colourful as well.

It was nice to get home and to change into dry clothes. I was pleased I had been out.

Cheers all from Dools