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......

Doolhof · ‎10-03-2023

Hello Shell, Eagle Ray, Quirky, GreenEgg and all reading,

It has been lovely to read all of the entries here. For those of you who are struggling at the moment, my thoughts are with you. I'm in a bit of a rough patch myself right now and have been encouraging myself to go out for walks.

For those of you close to the ocean I am a little envious! I'm hoping to get to the beach on Monday. Just reading your stories about swimming in the ocean, looking sat the stars, seeing the waves crashing on the rocks, life in a rock pool, all those things are wonderful.

No matter where we walk, in cities, countryside, beaches, parks, there is always something to notice and be thankful for, even if it is just the sun on our faces or the wind in our hair.

Thanks again everyone for sharing here, you have lifted my spirits.

Doolhof · ‎10-03-2023

Hi Everyone,

I've just returned from a walk. It is very grey here today with low cloud and fog. The atmosphere is damp and as I walked along, I brushed my hand amongst the dry dead grass and was surprised just how damp it was, the moisture being quite cold to touch.

There were 5 kangaroos in view this morning and a couple of hares. A pair of beautiful purple/blue/red coloured parrots came from behind me, one on either side of my head about ear level, then they crossed over each other in front of me and flew off into the distance. Other birds were twittering and the magpies warbled away in the trees.

While searching for something different to see, I noticed a mass of tiny spiders in a web that reminded me of frogs eggs in a pond. As it was a damp morning, the web was all wet and glossy looking. There were a mass of hundreds of tiny ants all moving about in the web that was close tot he ground in the grass.

It is always interesting what I find when out walking. Wishing all reading a day where pleasant images come your way.

Doolhof · ‎11-03-2023

Hi Everyone,

What a Wally I am sometimes! It was not "ants" in the spider's web but hundreds of little spiders. Not sure if anyone else picked up on what I had written as being a bit confusing! Ha. Ha.

Guest_1055 · ‎12-03-2023

Hey Mrs D, nope I didn't pick up on the "ants" smile 🐜😊

Eagle Ray · ‎12-03-2023

Hi All

Dools the damp atmosphere sounds nice and refreshing after all the dryness. I love spider webs on damp mornings, especially when they are covered with dewdrops.

Today I walked at a favourite river location. There were a lot of fish swimming in a circular ball pattern. It was hot in the sun, cooler beneath paperbacks and casuarina trees. The water was a bright blue. A few ducks, darters and moorhens about. I saw tadpoles as well. The river seems quite full of life. Quite a few people were kayaking. It was very peaceful.

There were interesting small creatures too. A green grasshopper seemed to be following me at one point. Sitting by the river I also had a slender but moderately large dark brown spider with tan markings come up to me. A small skink was very active on a nearby branch. The longer you sit and watch the more things you see.

I chattted to a family of magpies on my way back to the car - I think Mum, Dad and teenager.

Guest_1055 · ‎13-03-2023

Hi all,

You are extremely good at spotting wildlife and small animals on your walk Eagle Ray. And knowing the names of them.

Your profile name fits you. Eagles have excellent eyesight don't they. Thankyou for sharing what you see.

Eagle Ray · ‎14-03-2023

Thank you Shell

I went to a centre once where they rehabilitate birds of prey. I got to hold a black kite on my arm. We were told they have phenomenal eyesight able to discern details at a distance that we humans cannot see.

In my case, I’ve actually named myself after a type of stingray called an eagle ray. I see them in the estuary near where I live. I was inspired when I was meditating by the water and opened my eyes to see one gliding past. They are so graceful.

Hope things are well with you.

Guest_1055 · ‎14-03-2023

Ah I see, I don't think I have ever seen a live sting ray. Something gliding graceful sounds beautiful and gentle like. I think one can get lost in beauty around them. Like it can help get your perhaps not nice thoughts onto something else for a while.

Things are... what do I say, they are challenging. I understand what you said about humans being connected

Like a sense of connection. My sister and I were talking about something along those lines the other day whilst we walked around this beautiful tree lined park.

It had something to do with intimacy. How there are levels of it. So like a person serving you at a checkout may ask how has you day been? Like it is a bit like small talk and it is very unlikely that one would share any deep emotional things. What do you think? Or if anyone else is reading this, what to you think?

Anyway that walk with my sister was on Thursday evening.

Guest_1055 · ‎14-03-2023

As I was walking along the breakwall this evening, I watched this German Shephard dog pick up a squishy witches hat. It was a adorable. He picked it up with his mouth long ways. He then walked along carrying it and half chewing it. Drop it then picked it up again. And kept repeating that for a while. It is just the hat would have been about the same length of his entire body. He ended up leaving it then processed down the steep concrete bank to the doggie beach below. Sprinted across the sand for a while then ran back up that steep concrete bank, dipped under the railing and continued to walk quickly. We later heard the people Infront of us say something to the dog, like a command. Maybe this guy was training him. Anyway he was such a happy full of energy dog.

We walked to the end of the breakwall and back again.

Doolhof · ‎16-03-2023

Hello Everyone,

I've enjoyed catching up on your walks here, it is wonderful we can share and maybe inspire others to go out walking or to just take notice of the environment/nature around yo.

Recently I had a lovely walk with my sister in a Conservation park come forest. On the way there I saw a couple of emus which was very special. No where to quickly stop the car for a photo though.

Along the walk we had pine forest on one side and gum trees on the other. There were little pools of water that were looking quite stagnant, I certainly wouldn't have wanted to fall into one of those!

We saw an echidna which had a very dark colour to it under the quills. It looked quite stunning and different from the usual colour seen on echidnas. We saw some kangaroos as well and a blue wren which was lovely. As hard as we looked, we didn't see any koalas! (Not the right area for them, just being hopeful!)

I have also managed a beach walk! It was a public holiday here in S.A. on Monday. I hadn't really thought about that! Arriving at the beach there were hundreds of people walking and exercising their dogs. The tide was in and the beach was narrow so it was a little congested.

The beach I went to allows dogs off the lead before 10.00 a.m. The dogs looked like they were having a wonderful time.

Later on the tide went out, the beach width expanded and there was room for the multitude of people who were all enjoying nature at its best on a city beach.