Can a daily Morning Walk save the world?
Yep. Yes. It sure can. I think it does.
This is a question I have been walking with this past week. Is this possible, that a walk can save the world? In all honesty, I did have a day when I wondered if it was egotistical or self-serving to even consider this question. Eventually, I walked this limiting thought out of my head and left it on the side of the road.
Here is the reason I ask this question. I feel as if I have learned some very significant lessons while walking, all of which have fundamentally changed the way I see, feel, and understand the world. I think these lessons are available to us all, and they have the potential to heal, help, save, shift, and inspire our world towards a more whole and kind path.
The learnings are subtle, they are quiet, they are almost imperceptible. They aren’t grand, obvious, or loud. In fact, in the normal activity of the day, it may be hard to see these lessons, to acknowledge them, to even know they exist. That’s where walking comes in. To set aside time to be in the quiet, to surround yourself with your knowing, to breathe in the morning wisdom, to hear the lessons as you move through the world at Earth’s pace can change everything.
What are some of the lessons you have learned by walking? What do they sound like? How can you identify them? How do they change the world? How could they save the world? Well, they sound like the fog rolling in, or red tail hawks overhead, or watching the snow fall onto the path in front of you… or they sound like answers arising from your gut.
Here are some of the lessons I have learned by walking — lessons I believe that can save the world:
Live in this moment. Look how amazing it is!
Welcome the pleasures and challenges of each day.
Acknowledge those who have come before you.
Smile at everyone you pass, then smile at yourself.
Don't underestimate your body's ability to heal.
Sometimes, you will never be the same.
Respect your limitations.
Make others feel welcome.
Appreciate those who walk with you today.
Imagine those who might follow you.
Check in with yourself. What do you need/want?
Creativity is always with you. Listen for it. Be curious.
You don’t need all that much.
Love your body and the ability to walk.
You are in it, so be in it.
Solitude can be very inspiring.
Cross that bridge when you get to it.
To appreciate life, you have to pay attention.
Home is a feeling, not a place.
Unexpected moments can be life-changing events.
At the end of the day, it is always worth it.
I believe walking, every day, is a superpower.
Libby DeLana is an award-winning executive creative director, designer/art director by trade, who has spent her career in the ad world. Click here to get your copy of Libby’s first published book, Do Walk. You can connect with Libby on Instagram @thismorningwalk and @parkhere.