Take a short walk

You know that funk you get into at the end of the day when you’ve been locked in your office or house without ever venturing outside for a breath of fresh air? It may be more of a Midwest or desert community phenomena, since opening windows in those environments often means venting undue humidity or dust. But in the Spring or Fall, I have little excuse to hide away behind a computer terminal all day – yet sadly I do, all too often.

It is not that I am averse to walking, I actually quite enjoy the activity though I don’t prefer walking oval tracks repeatedly. I have done several Komen 5K runs and when my kid used to take violin lessons twice per week, I would walk neighborhoods, explore, and kick rocks for distance, like a youngster while waiting. It was a quiet time for myself and my thoughts. I remember walking in the dark, the snow, the rain – even hail until I made it under a highway overpass. I enjoy looking for curious things of interest, both man and nature-made at the edge of the road or sidewalk. It reminds me of all the ‘little’ stuff we just throw away, ignore and in a real sense ‘miss’ when flying by in an automobile or school bus at 40 miles per hour. So much to see, smell, and experience beyond cars; yet all too often, the artificial world crowds out all senses with blaring radios, air conditioning, and endless closed-window distractions.

Tonight, my wife came home and exclaimed “ What a pretty day – we need to walk!” So we purchased a pair of fresh hot sandwiches and headed for an enormous lake park near our home. We shared the meal at a picnic table near the edge of the lake. Many other people were running, biking, rollerblading, and walking with dogs and children. As we talked, I could not think of a better way to cap off the day. We walked and talked and the time melted away effortlessly. It felt good to be free of my self-imposed confinement and released into the air, sun and breeze.

So if you find yourself grinding endlessly through a project, or your eyes are blurry from staring at your laptop - get a clue! You cannot live a quality life sandwiched in-between a man-made maze of wood, plaster, and glass. Heed the ultimate Zen teachings of pedestrian authority, your kid’s Crossing Guard – Stop, Look, and Listen. As soon as it’s safe, he’ll rotate that oversized sign and kindly encourage you to take a short walk.