On walking.

It has always been part of my life, walking. For most of my life, I’ve had a pet dog who has needed a walk everyday!

‘Just go for a walk’ is a common, sometimes annoying, phrase that has become part of a quick fix solution to difficult situations. However, for me and my dog, walking is a daily requirement. Sometimes I really don’t feel like it! But I have to for her sake. When the weather is fine, it’s the highlight of my day. Now I’m a bit older, I find that if I have a difficult decision to make or I’m upset about something, my first thought is to go for a long walk. A long walk helps my mind slowly turn from scrambled, chaotic thoughts to clearer, more organised thoughts. I wonder if there’s something in the left/right action that does the trick. I liked it when I read that in the early 1900’s Mr Hans Asperger was part of a group called the Wandering Scholars. They wandered the Austrian Alps studying wildlife and taking field notes. I also like that Dr Shapiro, who is the founder of EMDR therapy, made her discovery during a walk in the park. EMDR therapy relies on the left/right movement of the eyes to ‘reorganise’ traumatic memories. It makes me wonder about the evidence that suggests why walking is good for mental health. Is it the left/right movement of the eyes and/or feet that somehow helps process difficult thoughts and feelings. I will investigate further!