With Every Step, A New Journey
“The freedom in walking lies in not being anyone; for the walking body has no history, it is just an eddy in the stream of immemorial life.”
One day, I decided to go for a walk.
It wasn’t for any particular reason that I can remember. The day itself hasn’t stuck around in my memory. I know that I must have felt better after doing so because the next day, I decided to go for another walk.
On the third day, after going for yet another stroll, I decided to start writing on the calendar the number of days I had walked. I mean, three days in a row of a 30-minute walk? That was pretty cool. Could I … would I … make it to ten days?
***
Before any of this started, I was a runner. No, let me back up further. Before I was a runner, I hated running. I tried it a few times and had decidedly determined it was NOT for me.
I wish I could remember now the little things that made me take those first few jogging steps when I thought, this isn’t so bad. I do know that what motivated me at that time was the challenge - to prove to myself that I could do just a little more. I still hated running, but I slowly became fascinated by the feelings of accomplishment and strength during and after moving my body.
Long story short, the feeling good and chase of a challenge led me to my first 5K, then several more 5K’s, then a 10K, then three half marathons, and even a sprint triathlon thrown in to boot.
And then I was done running.
I’d reached my pinnacle, my mountaintop. I knew my body wasn’t up for a full marathon. Thinking about the training for any more half marathons made me cringe. (The time commitment for training is extensive, and I dreaded thinking about waking up on another Sunday morning to commit a few hours to running.)
It became harder to think about going out for a run on any given day. Physically, my knees would hurt. Mentally, I felt a let down of sorts when I didn’t do my run just a bit faster than the day before or tack on one more mile. It was if that run didn’t really count.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but running had become about chasing something - a new goal, a different finish line, a better high.
Because I associated running with goals, when I started to run out of goals, I let go of the running.
But after several months, something within me started craving those feelings I had way back when I started my running journey. Those feelings of excitement, possibility, accomplishment, … the rush that could only come through movement.
Perhaps that’s what got me out for that walk on that first day. I don’t know.
I do know that while this walking journey has been similar to my adventures in running (and even includes some jogging time here and there), it also has been drastically different.
I’ve found something in walking that I never did while running. It actually has nothing to do, though, with whether I’m walking or running. I could return to half marathon training now and still hold on to this new awareness. (My knees thank me for not doing so, though.)
What I found was this:
that through slowing down,
I was able to focus on the practice, not the outcome.
Like Robert Frost and his road less travelled, that has made all the difference.
***
As you may know, that first walk turned into a journey that continues to this day. (It’s an accidental journey that I eventually recognized WAS a journey.)
After many months of tracking my walks on the calendar, I decided to give a name to this practice.
Walk365ish was born.
Walk365ish is my practice of walking every single day* for at least 30 minutes.
That’s the simple definition.
(*For complete transparency, I actually missed a walk on day 50. At the time, I wasn’t as married to the practice as I am today, and it had been a stressful day. The next day, however, I went for another walk. And then another on the following day. I decided to keep counting - embracing the PRACTICE over PERFECTION. The “ish” reflects that, and is an important component of Walk365ish. Of note: I have not missed a walk since that day.)
What Walk365ish actually is, is something I’ve discovered only by being on the path(s):
a journey of self-discovery, awareness, movement, exploration, and dedication, and nothing short of a life-changing practice that has happened one step at a time.
On Monday, February 24, 2020,
I’ll be celebrating 1500 days of walking every day.
That blows my mind. And it deserves acknowledgment and celebration. I don’t want to celebrate alone. So…
If only for just one day, I’d like you to join me.
Because Mondays are notoriously busy,
On Sunday, Feb 23rd, 2020, we’re going to walk together - wherever you are in the world.
You find a path that works best for you - whether that is in your neighborhood, a local park, inside a mall, on a treadmill, around your living room (not recommended - can lead to dizziness and extreme boredom), … by yourself or with someone … first thing in the morning or before dinner - and walk for 30 minutes.
That’s it. (Almost - keep reading.)
Please commit to this project on the EVENT PAGE ON FACEBOOK.
It can be found HERE: https://www.facebook.com/events/171052657526832/
This serves a couple of purposes: One, it helps commit you to the practice. (When you declare something publicly, you are more likely to follow through with it.) Two, it helps us all to see the others across the states and throughout the world who will be joining us. It helps us know that we aren’t alone on this journey…no matter how short or long it might be.
[ Be sure to stay connected on Facebook (through BeingBreath or Lisa Renee Wilson), Instagram (Lisa.Renee.Wilson), or through the newsletter in order to stay up to date with this project. ]
A FEW IMPORTANT NOTES:
If you are unable to walk: Any movement for 30 minutes will count! You can put on music and chair-dance or roll in a wheelchair. Honor yourself by moving in alignment with your amazingly unique body.
If you can walk, please do. While this practice is about acceptance (the “ish” part), it is also about challenge. It might feel like a lot to commit 30 minutes to walking. It might be raining that day or you might feel like just doing 10 minutes. But the most valuable results of any practice happen when you are outside of your comfort zone.
If you can’t walk quickly: Walk slowly. This isn’t a race! It doesn’t matter if you end up moving for one mile or five miles - just that you moved for 30 minutes. (p.s. If you want to jog or run or skip or crawl, go for it.)
When you walk, do everything you can to allow your attention to be on the walk. This means that ideally, you will walk alone (or in silence if with someone) and without music / audiobooks / podcasts. (If you end up on a treadmill, such accompaniment might be necessary.) Doing this walk outdoors and in a more natural setting will make the attention-practice easier. This practice is about the journey, not the timer.
The attention you give while on the journey will determine what you get out of it (as with most of life).
Questions? Just leave a comment below and let me know.
***
I’ve taken many steps since those first few that started this all.
Walk365ish started as an accident, then became a challenging practice in discipline, then an easier, ingrained habit, and now feels more like an invitation to a deeper challenge.
Wherever this takes me, I remain deeply grateful for this practice.
I hope that my journey will inspire yours, and that you will join us in taking those first few steps on Sunday, February 23rd.
Here’s to each step you take that leads you closer to the life that you want to be living….and to embracing the “ish” of it all.