I realized that I have been doing “walking” wrong.
Don’t get me wrong - my form is top notch. But my strategy has been way off.
Historically, I have “optimized” my walks. I have used them to catch up with friends, listen to podcasts, or blast music. I have been “killing 2 birds with 1 stone” (what a horrible phrase to use when talking about being in nature?) - and patted myself on the back for being so efficient.
But before my walk today, I was just…sad. And what felt like the first time - I decided to take my sadness for a walk. No other companions, no noise-cancelling headphones. Just me, my feelings, and the park down the street.
I had taken other comrades in the past - anger, happiness, excitement, overwhelm - but sadness? No. I thought sadness was an inside-cat. Something to be kept stationary, and in private.
Slowly, I began to experience what I believe the internet has been calling the “sad girl walk.” And honestly? It was miraculous. Sad walks are slower than anger walks (but I didn’t get my heart rate up or burn enough calories?!?!). They are not as ecstatic as happy ones, either (everyone is staring at you linger please stop being so embarrassing?!?).
This is based on 0 research - but I believe a key component of the SGW (or perhaps, any walk) is to practice paying attention. To look around - which necessitates looking outside of yourself - and to remember that you can breathe. To do that whole self-fulfilling prophecy thing, and try to find things that might make you smile. Or at the very least, less alone-and-sad.
And honestly? I didn’t have to look that hard. Because y’all - look at the gold that I found:
This stone engraving that was a little too on the nose, thanks:
Which was overlooking this view:
Which led to this bridge that is screaming to be a metaphor with that chiaroscuro vibe:
The entire universe glowing at the center of this flower:
This mama duck calmly herding her SEVEN precious chicks:
The perfect texture of this Ginko leaf:
And finally, this little free library….
That housed copies of THE ABSOLUTE PERFECT BOOK:
(Molly, if you’re reading, can we please be friends?)
After that smattering of goodness - it felt impossible to feel sad. All I felt was overwhelmed at the miracle of being alive.
Is this dramatic? Maybe.
But is it effective? Definitely.
Perhaps none of this is news to anyone but me - but I felt the need to share it anyway. Because on the off chance that you, too, are “optimizing your walks,” or treating your sadness like a “cool also” inside-cat.
Maybe…don’t?
Just for a day. Just to see what happens. Just to see something you may not have seen before.
With love,
-Av