I’ve been walking since 2008. (Okay, I’ve been walking since I first learned to walk…but I’ve been walking on purpose since 2008.)
2008 was a big year for me. I left my full time, office job which involved lots of world travel and meeting with Congressional staff. I left to become a writer. I loved the work I did at my old job. I am still good friends with many of the people I met there, but I knew it wasn’t for me. I knew God made me to live a creative life. Thankfully, my husband supported my decision.
My last day of work was January 19, 2008. Every time around this year, I think about that date, and my writing walk.
On my first Monday as an unemployed writer (way back in 2008), I opened a notebook, and started scribbling. I had a vague notion for a story but nothing plotted and outlined. (I’m still a panster!) I meandered. Boredom set in, and I knew I had to do SOMETHING with all this free time on my hands. So I played a Leslie Sansone Walk At Home video and started walking with her. After a couple of weeks of that I got stir crazy, I needed to go outside. I started walking outdoors.
Walking outdoors gave me a chance to really think about where I wanted my life to go. Without the distractions of social media and blogs and phones, I was free to be with my thoughts. Sometimes I thought about the story I was writing at the time. Other times, I tried to figure out what I would eat for dinner. Most times, I’d notice a rose bush along the way. I’d stop to examine it up close and then keep walking.
A year later, I walked through my first pregnancy. I remember going on a long, one hour walk in the local botanical gardens during my 40th week of pregnancy. My whale-shaped figure waddled through grassy paths and stony ones, mossy carpet and cement sidewalks. One of the gardeners at the botanical garden waved to me and said: “Looks like you’re about to have that baby soon.” I smiled and kept walking. I delivered my oldest child a couple of days after that walk.
Walking helped me give birth to someone new. Walking also helps me give birth to new projects, new ideas, and a new self. Walking has taught me to always be in the process of creation and recreation. It taught me to never become stagnate and to always move forward. Even when life gets knotty.
Walking helped me give birth to someone new. Walking also helps me give birth to new projects, new ideas, and a new self. Walking has taught me to always be in the process of creation and recreation. It taught me to never become stagnate and to always move forward. Even when life gets knotty.
As a new mom, I learned to walk with a baby in tow. Daily walks enabled me to get out of the “feed the baby-change the baby-rock the baby to sleep (maybe!)” cycle. Baby and I enjoyed our daily time in nature. During those walks, I’d try to figure out a reasonable writing routine in my mind. During those walks, I’d try to figure out how to be Super Mom Writer (hasn’t happened!) Writing with a newborn presented a whole new set of challenges, but those daily walks provided a needed respite from the Daily Mom Grind.
Now the children are a little older, and I walk solo. Most days I walk early in the morning when the school buses are picking up the kids, and my neighbors are walking their dogs. I’ve learned to multitask my walking with reading since my reading time is scarce.
Walking helps me untie my soul knots. 
I can ponder issues, work out solutions, and talk to God. Each step I take is a symbolic step of purpose, of decision, of direction. Each step is also a prayer of faith. With each step, I am saying to those soul knots”I won’t be tied up in your knottiness. See? I’m taking multiple steps forward. The Creator and I are working out and walking out my life together.”
Walking helps me untie my soul knots.
I’ve walked through new baby joy. I’ve walked through new mom stress. I’ve walked through a car accident. I’ve walked through buying a replacement car at an excellent price. I’ve walked through messy first drafts. I’ve walked through polished final drafts. I’ve walked through laughter. I’ve walked through tears.
The rote pounding of my feet on the earth centers and stabilizes me through life’s ups and downs. And it ensures that life doesn’t happen to me. I happen to life.
The rote pounding of my feet on the earth centers and stabilizes me through life’s ups and downs. And it ensures that life doesn’t happen to me. I happen to life.
Is there an activity that you engage in which feeds your soul and steadies you? Please share in the comments. I’d love to hear about it.
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