When in doubt- Walk it out...
When in doubt- Talk it out...
When in doubt- do both.
I LOVE walking. Next to yoga it is my preferred method of exercise. There is something about being outside, breathing (semi) fresh air, that heals you. Don't you agree? Walking gives you the freedom to think, to be in a space removed, to get OUT and simply be present. My mom always used to walk... maybe that's where I get it from.
Some of the best conversations Drew and I have had in our marriage have taken place while walking around Echo Park Lake or the Silver Lake reservoir or while hiking in Griffith Park. You can process things out loud and 'get away with it'. The air around you encourages honesty, the movement of your body evokes vulnerability; the earth begs you to see with an open heart, fresh eyes, and unguarded mind. It is liberation. It is hope. It is peace. It is joy. It is acceptance.
(Also... BONUS walking is good for your health...)
I have started meeting with friends in the park by our house. We walk around the lake and talk about life and the present state of things. There is safety when looking at the world around you instead of staring at one another across a table, it allows for conversation to flow less hindered, opening doors (windows, crawl spaces, etc) to the soul. Taboo subjects feel less oppressive, nerves are relaxed, moods lighten... it is a beautiful thing (Martha Stewart agrees).
I was reminded of how much I love walking (and just how important it is) while listening to a 'RobCast'. Rob and Kristen Bell talked about how some of their favorite moments in their marriage have taken place while they were out walking, and my soul hummed in agreement. It is a time set a part. A time to be present. A time to reflect, work through things, laugh...a time to simply be.
The world is waiting. So what do you say? Let's take a walk.
xx
*The photo is from a moment in Joshua Tree. It was a moment of strength and vulnerability like none other, but I can't tell you the whole story yet... soon though, soon.
