Nowadays, my daily walk is a priority for me – as is my writing – they kind of go together.
I find that the more my body moves, the better my mind works. As a teacher, I believed that was true for my students – but, somehow, I had forgotten that it was also true for me.
It’s only recently that I have made a 2.5 mile walk an integral part of my day – interesting when I think that walking upright is one of the earliest skills we learn in life! Living in New York City, as I did for my first 35 years, I walked all the time. I walked to school every weekday – or ran, 15 blocks each way; I walked to the grocery dragging my shopping cart behind me, to my extended families’ homes, to church, to the park or to the library.
Of course, I took buses and trains to more distant locations, but we walked to get to the bus stops or train stations – sometimes, many blocks! New Yorkers, who have cars, often leave them at home – cars can be a nuisance when it comes to finding places to park. At one point, I tallied $800 in fines for parking violations! Since leaving New York, 42 years ago, I have developed the habit of going everywhere in a car – even the supermarket, just 3 blocks away!
The trigger for the daily walking regimen was my husband’s heart condition. After six weeks in a hospital and rehab center, he was told that his recuperation was dependent on movement – especially walking to exercise his heart and lungs. He began his walks at 7:30 every morning. Over time, he met two ladies along the way, and began walking with them. When I retired, I joined their little team! I wasn’t jealous or anything – no way! Eleven years later, though he has gone on, I still walk with one of my Sonny’s walking partners.
While out walking, I use my headset – and find my stride in the music of Ernesto Lecuona, the Cuban composer, the songs of Celia Cruz and the pulsing sounds of Pancho Sanchez, the Buena Vista Social Club, the mello tones of John Coltrane and the piano of McCoy Tyner. When I read that in a Harvard medical School study, Dr. Ernest Greene found there is an “optimizing rhythm between brain blood flow and ambulating”, I thought, “Makes sense to me!”
I am evermore aware of my seniority – that is, my status as a Senior Citizen – and I pay attention to maintaining the health of my body and mind. Walking is the perfect medicine for me – extended physical activity, seeking out new experiences, developing an appreciation for connecting with the world around me.
One day, I suddenly realized that I hadn’t run anywhere in at least the last five years. So, I picked up my feet and ran. Since then, I’ve practiced skipping, hopping, jumping and walking backwards – all movements I once did – randomly, with abandon – without giving it a second thought !
Along the way, I stay alert – here, I see a bee collecting pollen from a magenta flower. There, I notice the Birds of Paradise showing off their proud exquisite blossoms – and everywhere, I hear the sounds of so many different bird calls. I stop to check the books in the Little Free Library cabinet in front of one neighbor’s house – a defiant squirrel watches me as she munches on a piece of fruit she has managed to forage. There are countless little things to notice and appreciate – and of course, there are the wonderfully diverse group of neighbors I greet as I go, fashioning in my mind the passages I will write when mi caminata is done for the day.
Two quotes from Newsmax Health:
“Walking is one of the easiest and most accessible forms of exercise available on the planet. It’s also one of the most beneficial, say experts, who tout the value of a brisk morning walk to boost brain power, energy levels, and metabolism.”
“It’s the closest thing we have to a wonder drug,” said Dr. Thomas Frieden, former director for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
So, walk good!