Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Places of Solace: Walking

Walking. There's something about the simple physical act of walking that brings peace. It hardly seems to matter where my feet are taking me or what path they tread. There's a nice park not too far from home—trees, deer, a small seasonal creek, lots of birds (and sometimes crazy bicyclists). Tromping around downtown (any downtown) or even around the neighborhood. It's the motion that grounds me (so to speak) and brings a sense of "place."

Strangely enough, I recently came across this site that talks about walking meditation. I particularly like this quote: "Practicing walking meditation is a way of 'de-fragmenting' our minds."

4 comments:

Charlotte Phillips said...

I love this topic! The library and bookstores are two places where I find peace. I can get the same feeling by curling up in my reading chair with a good book.

Walking sometimes works, but sometimes I spend the whole walk thinking about the pile of tasks that has be stressed in the first place:-).

I have this idea that sinking into a hot bubblebath, surrounded by candles and chocolate would work too. Now, if I could only find the time to test that theory...

Ann Parker said...

The bubble bath approach sounds heavenly, Charlotte! But for me, it would lead to more stress thinking about all the "to do's" lurking outside the bathroom door and clamoring to be addressed.

I think I finally identified a "place of solace" at home, which I'll save for the weekend's post. Turns out, homebase is a hard place to find the sort of "place" I'm blogging about here... Just too many day-to-day demands to ignore.

Patricia Stoltey said...

Walking is great for exercise and for calming the body and spirit, especially in Colorado where we have wonderful trails in town and in the hills. I hadn't thought about that lately because I hurt my knee in July and haven't gotten back in the walking habit now that I'm better. Must do that!

Ann Parker said...

Hi Patricia... Wish I could walk out my door and be in the Rocky Mountains. Now *that* would be a "place of solace" for certain!