When The World Is Silent And Still

It was cold this morning when I ventured outside for my walk. High gray clouds covered the sky, making the barren trees appear all the more naked. Winter is definitely approaching, with only two weeks until solstice. I walked briskly, filling my lungs with deep breaths. Each one was sharp on the intake from the cold.

I love to walk all year long, but I have always been fond of walking when it’s cold outside. Something about the sting of the air on my skin and the stripped down landscape pleases me in a way that walking in other seasons doesn’t. I am reminded of all those days of my childhood when I played outside in the snow each winter, and went for walks with my family when everything was blanketed with fresh powder and the world was so silent, so still.

When I walk, I think. The rhythm of my body moving at a steady pace allows my mind to relax and focus at the same time. I shut out all the distractions that surround me at home and allow the rhythm of my steps to guide my mind toward something new. At some level, I return to the girl I was walking around my hometown village in the softness of new snow. Going to that simpler time helps me work through whatever challenge is plaguing me at the moment.

It never fails, either. Walking is such a simple way to solve problems, you would think more people would take advantage of a 30-minute stroll to help them break through whatever has them blocked. Perhaps walking’s simplicity is one reason it gets overlooked. These days, it seems as if the solution to every problem under the sun can be found online, in the latest webinar or product launch or business opportunity. While there is merit to some degree to all the programs online, we cannot forget that life exists beyond the keyboard and the mouse.

When I return home from my walk, I often have a solution, or a fresh perspective on something, or a new idea. Not only does my body feel fantastic from moving, but the cobwebs in my brain are gone. I am happier, energized, and focused. Getting to work again and pushing myself to reach my next goal comes easier without the mental and physical constraints I felt before walking.

When was the last time you took a walk? Are you a regular walker, and if so, what benefits have you experienced from getting out there? What memories of walking do you have from your childhood? Does walking remind you of someone special in your life? Do share your stories in the comment section below and pass this post along.

Onward!