Start the Day With a Walk
Some days, on my morning walk, I notice the trash; the detritus of humanity; the things that make me get angry over the rudeness, and lack of consideration for other people. Instead of allowing my mind to wander aimlessly, my senses zero in on the cast-off takeout container where congealing barbecue sauce attracts every scavenger and fly in the neighborhood to the moldering mess, causing my stomach to churn, my skin to crawl, but worse, my ire to rise.
Fortunately, most days, I notice instead the birds and butterflies, the lavender flowers on the jacaranda trees, or a squirrel crossing my path to dash up a tree and chatter at me from a branch they deem safe from my unwanted attentions. Those are the days I let my mind wander, far from the mundane tasks and affairs. Needs, problems, and the rudeness of others don’t intrude on my walking mediation. I notice only the beauty around me, blissfully ignorant of the empty soda cups, or the pair of discarded blue jeans lying forgotten on the emerald grass.
Wondering how people can mar the landscape instead of carrying their garbage to the next trash receptacle, mere footsteps away is a pointless, fruitless endeavor. Who knows why they feel justified in discarding their unwanted items in a public area? Clearly, they pay little regard to the what, the where, or the consequences of their actions. I’m learning it actually takes more effort to notice these things, and get annoyed.
A Wandering Mind is a Happy Mind
I’m learning as I go to decrease the amount of effort I make noticing things, and simply enjoy the walk, and the joy I feel watching a lizard skitter up a brick wall, or a fluffy, brown squirrel zipping past on an errand of great importance. It seems as I meander along the green-bordered path, detached from the cars whooshing by a few feet to my left, I, too, become part of the scenery, making no more stir than the butterfly, the squirrel, or the hummingbird I may pause to admire before plodding on.
It took nearly two years for me to reintroduce a morning walk to my daily routine. I had a million reasons, or rather, excuses for spending most days hiding behind my front door, venturing out only when need, doctor’s appointments, or dance nights dictated. It took me one day; one 25-minute walk to remember why I did it in the first place. I wonder now why I made so many excuses. In the end, I only hurt myself; my own mental and physical health and well-being.
Initially, both then, and now, I started walking in the morning to improve my physical health, and to help me start releasing the next 30 pounds or so. Being out in the fresh air first thing in the morning before coffee or breakfast gives my body and mind a chance to ease into the day, and get my metabolism going before sitting down at the computer to pound away at they keys, research a new article for a client, or deal with technical issues. In fact, it clears my head so I think more clearly, and work more efficiently.
Take Self-Care However it Comes
Because there are days I have to tell myself to ignore the mundane; the annoying; the darker aspects of humanity, by the time I pour my coffee, fix my breakfast, sit down to address the days tasks and issues, I’m in a better, calmer, more accepting state of mind. Solutions come more readily, words flow more easily, and I’m happier with my life all the way around. Even the usual glitches, road blocks, and challenges are simply blips on the radar instead of CAT 5 storms.
I talk a lot about self-care, and taking time out for yourself every day. This is a perfect example of how doing so doesn’t take away from your productivity and efficiency, but instead, augments it. It takes me less time to get into my daily tasks when I go out and walk first. My concentration and focus improve dramatically, and problems that might have taken me hours to solve; stories it might have required several different combinations of search terms to research suddenly come together with ease.
Over the years, healthy habits have come and gone. Dancing will, if I have anything to say about it, remain as long as I’m alive and kicking. I learned the hard way how detrimental giving it up was to my overall health and well-being. I originally started walking when I read “The Artist’s Way” in which both a daily walk, and Morning Pages were recommended as part of your daily practice.
Healthy Habits Bring You Back to Your Center
Several years, and over a dozen notebooks later, Morning Pages went by the wayside. I didn’t feel like I was getting anything out of it any more, though in hindsight, I’m not sure it was the best decision. However, if I have to choose how I spend the first hour of the morning, I believe taking a walk is the better option.
Am I still writing something every, single day since I stopped writing Morning Pages? No. Have I worked on my memoir, or any of my novels regularly. Again, I have to admit it hasn’t happened. I’ve even reduced my blog posts from three, to two times a week, and am doing well to be a week ahead, much less the 4 I used to enjoy.
On the other hand, I now have client work that fills up, sometimes a few, and sometimes many hours every week, so I’m not spending all my days in idle pursuits. I’m also allowing myself days when I sit down and read someone else’s work of fiction, and have even branched out into other genres lately.
In fact, I credit the morning walks with clearing some of the resistance I had to new opportunities, genres, and activities. I’m once again looking at the unknown as a potential adventure instead of a peril-filled obstacle course of doom.
The truth is, your comfort zone is really a trap. You can get stuck until you only make progress when you’re drop-kicked out of your cozy armchair in front of the fireplace. Life is far more interesting, and fulfilling when you change it up a bit. Sometimes, you need a nudge so you can take that first, tiny step forward. For me, that nudge showed up as a morning walk. And I’m very glad it did!
About the Author
Sheri Conaway is a Holistic Ghostwriter, and an advocate for cats and mental health. 
Sheri believes in the Laws of Attraction, but only if you are a participant rather than just an observer. Her mission is to Make Vulnerable Beautiful and help entrepreneurs touch the souls of their readers and clients so they can increase their impact and their income.
If you’d like to have her write for you, please visit her Hire Me page for more information. You can also find her on Facebook Sheri Levenstein-Conaway Author.
Be sure to watch this space for news of the upcoming releases of ” Rebuilding After Suicide” and “Sasha’s Journey”.
