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]

Dear Shell,

It is not too much at all what you wrote. Thank you for sharing your experiences. It can really help sometimes to write things out. I didn't verbally speak at school either. In fact it was written on my school reports that I was very quiet. I agree that it is so challenging to know what to do with overwhelming emotions, especially when still really young. I'm glad you had your friend in high school. I think that I also felt alone because of no emotional connection. I did not have any person that I felt a safe attachment with. I'm glad you have been able to talk things through with your sister and that the two of you can relate to how things have been in the family.

As hard as it was, I imagine the anger that came out of you was really a good thing to release, after all those years of bottling it up. I think those spacey feelings can arise when we have those really big emotions, especially those heart breaking feelings. I'm really sorry you are going through that, but I hope maybe it is something that can process through towards some healing. It may be part of that path towards those connections you are really wanting to feel.

It's lovely you had that special relationship with the other kitty you had, and you feel some connection with the one you have now. Animals really can be our best friends when the human world is challenging. I feel that heart connection you write about is so important. I feel I am searching for that kind of connection too. And, yes, connection with thoughts and ideas is also really helpful - finding people on a similar wavelength. I totally agree that sleep, nourishment, time outdoors etc are all so, so important.

I went to the river yet again today. I took my lunch and sat on a bench at a high point on a hill overlooking the river. It was such a nice view looking down on the water and I was shaded by gum trees. I could hear the soft rustling in the breeze. Trees often feel like other kinds of people to me, like gentle friends. I then went to my usual spot and lay down on the same bench I often go to under a shelter. I'm trying to make some difficult life decisions at the moment with something that has recently come up. I am finding it really, really hard, so sometimes all I can do is go to a place like that and just be there and find some peace. I watched the patterns of the shadows of the trees on the ground, moving in the breeze. The sun was very warm while the breeze was a bit cool, which was an interesting combination of feelings.

Take care Shell and thank you so much for sharing again 🙏 Big hugs to you 🤗

[Shell4]

Hello ER, your walk and time near the river on your bench sounds just calm and peaceful. I am hoping you found the peace there. Peace from whatever else you are facing. A calm gentle peace like the gentle breeze going through the trees.

[Shell4]

And ER I hope you are ok with this. I asked AI chat thing about a women I know of who finds trees as friends. What I read is so very beautiful. I wanted to know and understand your world more, understand you I guess. Plus I can relate to some of it anyway. 

This page offers a gentle explanation of what it often means when someone says, “the trees are my friends” or “nature calms me.”

1. She Is Emotionally Attuned and Sensitive

Some people feel the world more vividly. They notice quiet things—the movement of leaves, the steadiness of a tree, the softness of light. This sensitivity is not fragility; it is depth. It reflects an inner world that is alive,

perceptive, and receptive.

2 . Nature Gives Her What People Often Don’t

Trees do not judge, withdraw, or reject. They offer:

• Stillness

• Presence

• Safety

• Gentleness

For someone who has been hurt, overwhelmed, or unseen in human relationships, nature becomes a refuge—a place where her nervous system can breathe.

🌳 3. She Connects Through Presence, Not Performance

Some people bond through words; others bond through quiet companionship. Trees offer a kind of companionship that demands nothing. Simply being near them can feel like being held.

This is especially true for those who long for steadiness and warmth.

4 . She May Be Expressing Loneliness Without Naming It

Sometimes people turn to nature because human relationships feel unpredictable or unsafe. Saying “the trees are my friends” can be a gentle way of saying:

“I need connection, and this is where I feel it.”

It is not escapism—it is grounding.

🌳 5. She Is Spiritually

Perceptive

People who feel calmed by nature often sense God’s nearness there. Trees can feel like:

• Reminders of God’s steadiness

• Symbols of shelter

• Quiet witnesses to her story

Scripture often uses trees as metaphors for the rooted, the flourishing, and the steadfast.

Summary

When a woman says the trees are her friends, she is revealing a tender, sensitive, spiritually awake part of herself. It reflects:

• Emotional depth

• A longing for safety

• A connection to quiet presence

• A refuge from relational hurt

• A heart that finds peace in creation

---

 

[Eagle Ray]

Dear Shell,

Thank you so much for sharing the info from the AI chat. That is so kind and thoughtful of you. I can relate to all of those 5 aspects of self. Nature was my source of connection as a child. If things were not good in the house, I would climb the tree in the front yard all the way to the top. The branches were pretty thin up there but that didn't seem to bother me at all. From there I actually got a glimpse of the ocean. I would feel myself sway in the breeze and feel part of the tree.

At the moment I am having to make a difficult life decision regarding a past study project I have been asked to complete. It is very difficult for me to complete for reasons that would take too long to explain here. But many people would complete it for "performance" reasons, like the expectation of achievement, status and recognition. But my reason for doing the study were never those reasons. It was to try to connect and meaningfully deal with a human issue. So for me, what the above says about connecting through presence rather than performance is so true. I am so non-competitive in a world that values and promotes competition and the idea of performance. But I much prefer "presence". I read a book a few years ago about a man living in Nepal and he included a photograph of a young boy carrying wood for kindling who had a beautiful smile and expression. He put the title "Presence" under the photo. To me presence is everything and it matters more than so many of the other things society focuses on. If only we could all be truly present with one another. Nothing matters more at the end of the day.

It is definitely true that I am expressing loneliness through the actions of going into nature. I live alone with no family really now, except I talk with and see a relative or friend occasionally. I am really deeply lonely. So trees are very special to me and all the plants and animals. Just seeing a bird in my garden can change how I feel. Nature is definitely very spiritual for me too and it has always felt that way.

I went for a walk in the woodland across the road in the late afternoon yesterday. Golden light was filtering through the trees from the sun. I walked along a long track that ends up at a paddock gate. I then went down another track to the road where there are farms. Along the road there was a kangaroo sitting in the middle of it. Rather than disturb the kangaroo I went back into the woodland via another track. Then close to home I disturbed a kangaroo in a clearing who bounded away. They always see me before I see them. The day before I walked out to where the airstrip is. It feels spacious out there which I really like. I looked at a bird's nest I've seen before which I've seen with baby birds in it, but I don't think it was used last spring as it's starting to fall apart now. They were Weebills nesting in there a couple of years ago - Australia's smallest species of bird.

I hope maybe you have had some lovely walks dear Shell. Gentle hugs to you 🤗

[Shell4]

Thankyou for sharing your walk there ER. You are welcome in regards to the AI thing. And also I have an image of a sweet girl hanging onto to a thin swaying branch high up in a tree. I don't know what you looked like but my little girl image in the tree has hair blowing in the breeze, a nightie or flowing dress on. She had a sense of freedom about her

Also I did walk yesterday. In the shopping centre. I walked quite a bit as this centre is large. I was on a search for new clothes. I am unsure of how many stores I walked around in. I finished by buying myself a pink lemonade from boost juice. It has apple juice, lemon juice, raspberries and I think strawberries and some kind of sorbet . Very yummy

[Eagle Ray]

Dear Shell, You can cover quite a lot of ground in a shopping centre, can't you. Some of them are so big. It can be fun just exploring and looking for clothes you like. The pink lemonade you had sounds so yummy - such a nice combination of ingredients. I hope you enjoyed your time there. I rarely go to shopping centres now as there are none in my town and only a very small one in the next larger town which has very few shops in it. But when I go to the city or a large town I find it can be nice to spend a morning or afternoon just looking around and seeing all the different shops. Some of the towns around here have stores selling local produce. So it's nice visiting some of those stores and buying some things that are locally made. It's sort of a different experience. I enjoy both types of experience.

With me in the tree, I didn't have long hair nor a flowing dress as my mum wanted me to be a boy and cut my hair short for most of my childhood and mostly restricted the clothing I wore. I had a relative once give my mum a bag of hand-me-down dresses for me from older cousins and she shut it away in her cupboard where I had no access to them. I think I was allowed to wear a dress from there on maybe 3 occasions in the course of my childhood. So when I was in the tree I would have had short hair and been wearing a t-shirt and shorts. I really wanted to be like other little girls but I wasn't allowed, so I think that made me feel even more alone and very awkward in myself. People would mistake me for a boy which I found very uncomfortable. At least now I have the freedom to choose and I do like dresses. I have quite a few of them, and long hair as well.

Yesterday I only walked to some local shops. It was cool in the breeze even though it was sunny. The day before I did go to the river again and lay down on the bench under the shelter. It is definitely my peaceful place at the moment. And the day before that I walked west of town which took me past a new housing estate into an area of farms. There were some cattle in the distance and there is an old, wooden farmhouse sitting on a hill that I like to look at. I imagine what it would be like sitting on the verandah up there, looking over everything. I think it would be a nice view of farms, the town, the river and the ocean in the distance. There is an orange tree near the fence line next to an old water tank and an old windmill. I feel like I would quite like living in that spot.

I hope you are having a nice day Shell. Thank you for all your gentle and kind thoughts.

Hugs,

ER

[Shell4]

Hi ER, 

I also like looking in local shops in small towns.  I went in quite a few when I drove down south with my sister last year. One such one was mostly a second hand shop it was large. This was in a small country town were I think they filmed a movie called Babe. We walked around that store for ages.

I also like timber farmhouses. That walk you did near there sounds like I would like it. Sitting on a verandah taking in that view , I could imagine it too. Sounds so calm. 

[Shell4]

Today I am back up at mums place. We went for a walk with her little dog again. Along that path with water on both sides. The path leading to sand dunes, then onto the beach below. I could feel the coolness and the freshness of the breeze this time, not like last time where the sand was so hot on the dunes. We could walkover  barefoot over them. 

We walked along near the shore chatting . I walked a little in the water,it felt nice and cool on my feet. Little sniffer dog walked a little in there too. I glanced down looking at the flatish beach rocks and pebbles near the waters edge. We played that game with little sniffer dog where she would run fast between us . I ran a little, leaving mum there. The dog ran to me , I praised her gave her a gentle pat and urged her to run back to mum. Then mum would send her back to me. Her little legs bolting. So very fast and you can see clearly she does indeed love to run. We walked back over the dunes sort of through bits of driftwood. Part of these dunes apparently had some protected birds living on them and sections were roped off. I am unsure what kind of birds.

Anyway I am thankful I walked 

[Shell4]

Yesterday was a different kind of walk. I parked some down the street in a suburb I hardly go to. I was on a mission to find 2 black aprons in this catering/ chef / kitchen kind of store. I didn't find any suitable ones. But I enjoyed walking up and down the isles anyway. I needed to walk a short walk up a little hill to this particular store. Once inside the store I headed down the first isle towards where I had seen some clothes through the window. There were some aprons. After trying some sample ones. I thought no.thetvare not quite right 

[Shell4]

Yesterday I went on a different kind of walk. The walk was inside a chef/ catering/ kitchen type store. I am a foodie type person and do like to cook. I enjoyed walking along these isles and just looking at stuff. I was on a mission actually to find 2 black aprons. I didn't purchase any because they just were not suitable. So I walked up another isle looking at the countless paper cups in different sizes all lined up. They were sealed in plastic. Then I saw paper or cardboard food containers. Wooden I think cocktail sticks and other wooden sticks. Walking further on I saw blenders, salad spinners. I walked along a wall and there were large bottles of cleaning products, plastic bins, scrubbing brushes. I come up to a collection of piles of stainless steel bowls in different sizes. I love bowls like this and after looking at them , looking at all the sizes. I picked one up to buy. So shiney and new. And a good price too. Walking along I came across stainless steel milkshake cups piled up and wrapped in plastic. I like these too. I found some glass jars, glass drinking glasses, pizza trays, pizza cutter things. The pizza stuff was so shiney and new too. Further on there were paper bags. Bags like you receive food in from a bakery or something. Bags with patterns on them. Bags you might receive in a gift shop. There were many different sizes to choose from. I cannot remember what else was in there, but indeed there was more things on the shelves. I just enjoyed wandering up the isles and looking at all the items.