Walking is man’s best medicine. ~Hippocrates
If you are one of my Facebook buddies, you know I enjoy walking. It’s exercise. It’s nature searching. It’s sharing. Most of the time I walk alone. Well, not really alone. With my dog, Oscar, although this summer when the temperature hovered around 100, Oscar preferred the air-conditioning and not walking. I took a few walks without him since he does wear a black fur coat and he’s not as young as he used to be. Who is? But I love to walk in the fields. In parks. Sometimes even on treadmills, but I prefer a nature setting.
I also enjoy walking with family and friends. My sisters and I visited my daughter last week
end and each morning we took their dogs for a walk around their neighborhood. They happen to live in a beautiful old neighborhood where most of the homeowners plant lots of flowers, like these encore azaleas blooming in the fall. Add to that majestic trees, some more than a hundred years old, lining the walkways. Then the old homes, mostly all built in the early 1900s, also draw an admiring eye.
Besides the houses and landscape, we also get to see the pets of the neighborhood. Sometimes we meet other people walking their dogs. There’s always a feeling of community between pet owners. So it’s “Hello, how are you?” or “Nice morning” or “How is (insert pet’s name) doing?” Maybe everybody should have a pet in order to meet their neighbors. That might take the place of front porch sitting that seems to have fallen by the wayside or been replaced with air conditioned television rooms. But dogs have to tak
e a walk now and again, and they are great conversation starters between neighbors.
Even out here on the farm, I’ve found that true when neighbor dogs happen to come over to visit and their owners follow them. Then we get acquainted. Meet Bunny, a neighbor dog that came to visit and introduced me to her lovely owners. We might have missed out on talking if not for Bunny.
Besides the chance to soak in nature and spot new things to share on Facebook, walking gives you time to think. Time to consider. Time to plot out those difficult spots in stories if you’re a writer the way I am. So put on your sneakers, grab a dog if you have one or maybe a camera, and step out into your outside world. I enjoyed walking around my daughter’s outside world and I always enjoy inviting you along to walk with me on my Sunday morning coming down posts on my Facebook page or by showing you what I spot on my walks. Now that it’s cooled down, Oscar is always ready to go walking too.
Do you like walking around your neighborhood?
Walking is magic. Can’t recommend it highly enough. I read that Plato and Aristotle did much of their brilliant thinking together while ambulating. The movement, the meditation, the health of the blood pumping, and the rhythm of footsteps… this is a primal way to connect with one’s deeper self. ~Paula Cole
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My husband and I love walking. We enjoy walking in our neighborhood. Our doctors encourage us to walk, as we both need to lose weight and walking is great for that. 🙂 We see lots of God’s blessings on our walks. Neighbors, new friends, dogs, cats, the changing colors of the leaves and flowers, the beautiful colors of the sky, and so much more. We always hold hands, too, and that makes the walk even more special.
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That’s so sweet, Melissa. That you hold hands. I see couples out walking holding hands and always smile. We saw many cats on our walk through my daughter’s neighborhood – some outside cats and some cats watching out their windows. My sister is a cat lover so that added to the fun of the walk. Thanks for sharing what you like about walking in your neighborhood.
I’m with you, Ann, I love walking!! You do learn a whole lot about your neighbors just by observing things folks are doing or not doing! Last summer my husband bought me a bike & biking has replaced my walking! You can still observe a lot about your neighborhood while sitting atop your bicycle!!! Now, that it has cooled down somewhat here in Florida, I will add in some walks along with my bicycle trips through the neighborhood! Both walking & biking are also good times to pray both for neighbors & others! It’s a treat to commune with God while out enjoying the beauty He has created!!!
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What a great neighbor you are, Betsy, to pray for your neighbors as you pass by their houses! I read somewhere that you can be a real blessing by doing what the writer called “flash prayers.” Just think good blessings toward a person you see even if you don’t know them and their circumstances. God does. I haven’t done any bike riding for a long time but it sounds like fun.
I sometimes walk to garage sales around my neighborhood. It’s been hot this year though. There is not much to see in our neighborhood. No vintage houses and not many trees or dogs.
Usually I just walk to my Excercise YouTube video to get my step count and cardio up!
I used to walk to work before I retired and walked all day at work.
I sure don’t walk like I used to!
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Well, maybe that’s good, Paula. When we retire, we are supposed to take it a little easier. But sounds as though you still keep stepping if you do an exercise video. And a pretty place to walk does make walking more fun.
Lovely blog post Ann. I can’t say I’m much of a walker, but I do enjoy the wonderful descriptions of your walks. I always look forward to hearing about your adventures with Oscar. They are just about my favorite things to read on Facebook. They are always positive, hopeful and beautiful. Something much needed in today’s sometimes negative environment. Thanks!!
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What a nice things to tell me, Marihelen! Oscar says thank you too. He’s hot today. Not at all excited about walking with the temperature warming up. And I do like happy thoughts and smiles on Facebook even though I know everything can’t always be happy. I’ll take you on another walk soon. 🙂