The Miles Traveled

By Amy Swift Crosby and Libby DeLana

Mileage.

Literally and metaphorically, we define it as “the distance traveled.”

But not all mileage on life’s many road trips is equal, nor are all distances even perceptible. While some of our journeys beg for acknowledgement, others we prefer to travel under (emotional) cover.

Crossing a finish line, recovering from illness, giving birth, publishing a book — all observable, and anyone paying attention can easily see and appreciate the miles — both where we started and how far we’ve come. Recognition, even applause, is implied and often expected for certain labors. These miles have what I think of as two-way visibility. Easy to witness another’s joy (or pain) from the outside, easy to feel witnessed on the inside.

But there are other journey’s that are more of an “inside job” — times we each need to make our way through certain dark forests in what feels akin to the middle of the night. This is mileage where the emotional complexity calls for privacy and anonymity. We are the sole decider of what to reveal, and when (if ever.) This is analogous to one-way visibility — only we know our true circumstances, despite what iceberg tip can be seen from outside. We might be beset with rage, grief, chagrin or despondency, but no matter how high or low the volume internally, to the world we go dark and quiet for a spell. Nearby “witnesses” have to make nuanced decisions about how to express empathy, knowing that the “walker” has signaled social hibernation.

Of course, we are both “walker” and “witness” at any given time.

As the walker, the need for recognition — or, conversely, secrecy — is threaded to a complex web of what being “seen” in our mileage (then) means. Do I want people to know about my journey? What part? How much?

How we witness others in their respective miles traveled also bears some responsibility. How do we appreciate, identify, raise a glass? What is “enough”?

But, because visibility isn’t always two-way, it’s not simply the fork-in-the-road I’ve presented above. For one, there are the invisible miles — the kind we long to be seen in but (logistically or otherwise) can be hard for others to observe (and acknowledge).

Think…

Paperwork. Consider all the onerous admin you do for work-life or home-life, for the benefit of everyone involved. Bills paid, insurance claims filed, disputes waged — these get little (if any) credit. Necessary work, but largely invisible.

Future-planning. If you’re the magical fairy who books the vacation, invests the dollars, anticipates the waitlist — the forethought tasks, I call them — you know that while everyone appreciates them when they bear fruit, the months and weeks beforehand go largely unnoticed.

Housework is a famously underappreciated exertion that needs no explanation.

Maybe more significantly, but less discussed, is emotional labor. Are you always the one to make amends, investigate the feeling, anticipate the gift, manage the client/in-law/tricky friendship? Do you hold space where someone else sucks up air?

Invisible work can be classified as, “effort that’s hard to see or measure.” Some people need more appreciation for invisible work than others. But voiced or not, most of us wouldn’t mind more noticing here.

But there’s another, even more convoluted dimension to the mileage conversation: What happens when we agree on two-way visibility (we both think we’re seeing the same kind of mileage), but perception of miles traveled is still vastly different?

One of my favorite, (okay, irksome) examples of this gap is what I like to call, “the Great Start problem.”

As a copywriter, I work with creative agencies on strategy and messaging projects. Because of my role in the process, I am often the first person on the team to put ideas to paper — to press “send” on one of several rounds of words and concepts. This initial thinking — my first draft — can take days or weeks.

Whether the work is bullseye or not, being the first to submit work calls for a little egoic Teflon. I still have butterflies when I submit the words, even two-decades down the road. But what I’m (at least) sure of is that my mind has collected enough mileage over the years to assume my first draft is part one of a strong creative iteration.

So, when a creative director or other agency lead says the following words, I feel an emotional road flare go up. Those two words are, “great start.”

Seems innocent enough.

Surely, they mean to be encouraging.

But, what I actually hear is:

“You’ve barely touched the problem we’re trying to solve.”

There’s a mileage gap here (regardless of whether my perception of “great start” is valid or not.) The beginning for them isn’t at all the beginning for me, ten-plus hours (+20 years) into the work.

“Great start” underestimates what it takes to make meaning from a blank page.

“Great start” presumes minimal effort, despite maximum (if early) thinking.

But this is not a writing rant.

Imagine looking at early sketches for what will become a watercolor and telling the artist, “great start.” Unless this is a student who started two hours ago, it’s a bummer.

Think of a child at work on a sandcastle — whether it’s award-winning or dilapidated. Unless you know it’s only been 10 minutes of building, “great start” may offend the kid who started on it three hours ago.

The architect of effort/creative output, whatever her experience level, may not resonate with (the potentially condescending) “great start.”

There’s no mal intent in it, but there is a misunderstanding of miles traveled. The consequence? It’s defeating.

A defeated creative doesn’t want to stay on the project.

A defeated employee doesn’t want to show up for work.

A defeated child/spouse/friend doesn’t want to try… at all.

It’s interesting that it’s not just that we are seen, but that the depth and breadth of the work we put forth can be met with right-sized mileage.

So, how to be a more valuable witness to the miles invested — even when they are impossible to see?

Assume generously. The beginning for one is rarely the start for another.

Be specific in recognition. The best shout-outs include something that could only be said to that person — not the general public.

The luckiest among us have a handful of astute witnesses who are truly therapeutic in this sense. They reliably see us. Recognize them for that gift.

As for me, the “walker” in this case, I’m working on a better internal response to “great start.”

Miles traveled? I’m calling it a slow start.

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Amy Swift Crosby is a copy writer, brand strategist, and co-host of The Brandsmiths podcast. She helps founders and brands with the words and messages they use both internally and externally. Her personal writing investigates language and how it informs and impacts our world view. You can follower Amy on Instagram @amyswiftcrosby or visit www.amyswiftcrosby.com to read more.

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.

Headwinds and Longer Days.

March 3, 2022
Plum Island
Temperature 22F, 15mph wind gusts, tons of sun, and the days are getting longer.

Today, as I turned around at the end of my route, I came face to face with a big headwind that was sharp and unrelenting. It was difficult and exhausting. There were moments when I felt as if I had to put my head down to push forward, and gusts so wild and invasive it felt as if my armor of two coats wasn’t enough to protect me. Mama Nature had a lesson for me today, and she wasn’t going to sit back and whisper it.

The thing about ThisMorningWalk is that it is like some of the harder moments in life. A headwind in life leaves you feeling vulnerable, ungrounded, and exposed. It requires determination, and an unwavering belief in yourself in order to make it.

As I turned the corner, I became frustrated and even a little fearful. I had a long way to go to get back to the car. Did I have enough layers to keep warm as I walked into this cold wind? Did I drink enough water before I left the house? Were my spirits high enough to get me to my car? I felt weary and knew this walk was going to take a bit of determination — and I wasn’t sure I had it. I had been hoping for smooth sailing and simple, gentle walk without much effort, honestly. This was going to take all the willpower I had in me. I know, I know, it is just a walk. You are right. But the combination of low spirits and uninspired effort were a tragic pairing. This walk home was going to be step by metaphorical step. Inch by inch. Breath by breath.

But this is a lot like life, right? We turn a corner and all of a sudden there is an unexpected headwind that takes the breath out of us. Here is what I have come to learn in these moments:

1. Break the moment, the task, the experience down into small increments and get curious. Step by step. This breath in, this breath out. My thought process looks something like this: Ok, ten steps. Now ten more. Go gently. Take a deep breath in and now exhale. Feel the way your foot lands on the earth. Remember, the cold wind on your neck won’t last forever. Get curious about these next five steps. You are safe. Now, pause and turn your face to the sun. Feel the warmth. Remember, the days are getting longer. You are now closer. Patience. Belief. You are ok. You are strong enough. You have hot tea in the car. You are almost there. See, you can do the hard stuff.

2. Be present with the moment. I say out loud, “welcome to right now” as a way to acknowledge the day and my place in it.

3. Remember, ThisMorningWalk is a gift. The more I move, the more I am moved. This walk is an act of life, of awakening. It is very simple. That’s the beauty.

Thanks for walking with me.
Libby

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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.

How to Invite a MorningWalk Practice Into Your Day

I am often asked, “How do you do it every day? Where do you find the momentum?” I must admit that on that first walk years ago, I had no idea that I would still be walking every day. The desire then was more immediate, more urgent: to spend more time outdoors.

Years later, however, what I have realized is that the ongoing practice is where I have learned the most. There are subtle learnings that can only be understood over time. Also, now it is part of how I identify myself. I am someone who walks every morning. Much like someone who goes for a run most days a week defining themselves as a runner. I walk. It is a significant identification of who I am, so the idea of not doing it has overtones of betrayal. If I am a walker, I must go.

Here’s what I’ve learned about how to begin.

The Ground Work

1. Begin with something doable, in terms of time and distance. A walk around the neighborhood is a wonderful place to start. Find a way to make it possible. Start small and take the first step.

2. Repeat for 5 days.

3. Repeat again.

4. Find the places where it feels difficult and strategize around that issue. For me, when I wake up, for some odd reason, my feet always feel cold. It was a psychological deterrent in the colder months because my mind told me I was just going to get colder, more uncomfortable. So I found some super cozy slippers and socks to solve that issue. I also love hot tea in the morning, so I decided that it was when I walked in the back door home from a walk that I would fire up the tea kettle — not before. The space between waking and walking is a tender place. I needed tools, tricks, hacks, and solutions to make sure there wasn’t a reason to not go.

“To an astonishing degree, we’re influenced by the amount of effort, time, or decision-making required by an action. The more convenient, the more likely we are to do it; the more inconvenient, the less likely we are to do it.”

— Gretchen Rubin

5. Find an anchor point to help get you going. Connect your new habit to an existing one, and that anchor that will trigger your new habit. An example of this would be to put a vitamin you take daily next to your mug that you use each morning for tea. The idea is to make the new behavior automatic.

6. Stay curious about what is possible. Be curious about what you might experience on this walk. Starting each day is a practice, and staying with it deepens what you observe about yourself and others.

7. Take care. Get some walking/running shoes and be sure to switch them out every 600 miles. Bring a whistle for safety and be sure to pay attention to the signals you are getting from your environment. Be sure to let someone know where you are going and when you are expected back. Stretch before/after, and put some chocolate in your pocket.

8. Success is in the habit, not in an outcome. When your thoughts say, “There is no way I can do that,” consider responding with, “But just imagine if I could”. There won’t be an immediate impact; just create the habit.

9. Get going and ask yourself, “What is the best that can happen?”

10. Relax and tap in to all of your senses. The sound of the city waking up, the smell of the pine trees, the dusty dust dust that gets in your shoes, the smell of the local bakery, the lights coming on in your neighborhood.

11. Give yourself a compliment. Every day. This practice is a lesson from one of my sons. We were out on the mountain one day, headed down a very steep hill, when I overheard what sounded like someone singing. When we got to the bottom, I asked him what was up. Was the melodic sound coming from him? Was he singing a school song? He replied, “Well, it was a little intimidating going down, so I decided to give myself compliments the whole way down.” I think it is a practice we could all embrace.

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Libby DeLana is an award-winning executive creative director who has spent her career in the ad world. She started walking in 2011 and hasn’t missed a day since; as a result, she has walked the circumference of the earth. Her first published book is Do Walk: Navigate Earth, Mind and Body. Step by Step. You can connect with Libby on Instagram @parkhere or @thismorningwalk and www.ThisMorningWalk.com.

How to Build a Daily Walking Practice

From Do Walk: Navigate earth, mind and body. Step by step.
How to make a commitment and then follow through.

Photo by Little Outdoor Giants, Plum Island MA

When I set out for a morning walk ten years ago, I had no idea the profound impact it would have on my life. It seems so obvious now, but my initial intention was simple: to be outside and to be mindful. Every day. To dedicate an hour of my day to something nourishing and satisfying. Days had become filled with to-do lists, errands, conference calls and one too many meetings. My commitment was to simply get up early every morning and go for a walk. No matter what.

Humans need to move. We are built for it. Our days in the 21st century are often filled to the brim with sitting indoors, in cars, unmoving. Walking stimulates not only the body but also the mind. Creativity, innovation, focus, wonder; these are just some of our companions when we walk.

Creativity requires us to see things anew, and for me, the most powerful innovation tool is walking. A Stanford University research report by Oppezzo and Schwartz concluded, “Walking led to an increase in analogical creativity … walking has a very specific benefit — the improvement of creativity.” Walking awakens the senses and forces the brain to use multiple parts. Significant and disparate areas of the brain are needed to coordinate movements and to maintain balance while walking. This movement stimulates areas of the brain that are generally not all lit up at the same time. In the Stanford study cited here, it was found that walking boosts creative output by 60 percent. We are unconsciously competent when it comes to walking. We don’t need to think about putting one foot in front of the other. We get to take advantage of the fact that the brain is fully engaged in a way that ignites creativity.

An interesting academic article by Leisman, Moustafa and Shafir, three brain scientists, published in Frontiers in Public Health, summarised by Nicole Dean in Brain World Magazine, suggests that “complex human cognition, including our remarkable capacity for innovation, developed right along with the ability to walk … Granted, when we go for a walk, the very brain structures that allow us to walk also allow us to access our most sophisticated cognitive abilities.”

One could argue that our ability as a species to problem-solve, innovate and create stems from our ability to walk. Many well-known pioneers have used walking as a key tool. Steve Jobs is noted for having conducted ‘Walk and Talks’ with friends, colleagues and employees. He thought they were essential to the creation of some of Apple’s most important insights and successful products. The power and connection from a walk don’t just happen with people who are familiar with one another. As Minda Zetlin wrote in a 2020 Inc. article: “Conducting a meeting while walking has clear health benefits for the participants, and as it turns out, it benefits the meeting, too. New research from the University of Hong Kong shows that walking side by side helps people connect to each other.” The power of synchronized steps, arm movement, and breathing is thought to build a bond without even having to say a word.

As a result, many influential thought leaders have said that walking is an essential daily ritual. It seems to me I am in good company. Here are a few: William Wordsworth, Henry David Thoreau, Albert Einstein, Oprah Winfrey, Charles Darwin, Virginia Woolf, Isaac Asimov, John Muir, Ludwig van Beethoven, Mahatma Gandhi, Sigmund Freud and Edward Payson Weston, the godfather of the pedestrianism movement. I believe the reason walking is such a powerful tool for creativity is the juxtaposition of something that is elusive and ephemeral — an idea — with something so foundational and physical — walking. The more I move, the more I am moved.

There are many other benefits of a good walk. Walking is said to provide some powerful health benefits, such as:

• Improving circulation

• Strengthening bones

• Improving sleep

• Boosting energy for the day

• Maintaining weight and burning calories

• Improving mood

• Strengthening your heart

• Boosting immune function

• Helping lower blood sugar

• Supporting joints, and

• Lowering Alzheimer’s risks

So, what does it take to get started and walk regularly? Well, one of the wonderful things about walking is there isn’t much you need to purchase. A good pair of walking boots or running shoes is the only essential element. Take care of your feet. An investment in good shoes has a long-term impact on your wellbeing. What else you need may depend on where in the world you’ll be walking and how changeable the weather is.

Regardless of where you live, it is possible to add more walking to your day. Remember, a morning walk can be a few blocks with several deep breaths embedded into it. If you happen to live in a location that means you spend a great deal of time in the car, consider parking at the far end of the car park. And if you get to a building where there is a choice of walking up a flight of stairs or using a lift, take the stairs. We can all fit more walking into our day regardless of where we live.

Harvard Health reported recently: “A study of 12,000 adults found that people who live in cities have a lower risk of being overweight and obese than people who live in the suburbs. In Atlanta, for example, 45 per cent of suburban men were overweight and 23 per cent were obese; among urbanites, however, only 37 per cent were overweight and 13 per cent obese.” The explanation? Driving versus walking. People in cities walk more.

Here are a few things to consider when building a daily walking practice:

1. Find a point of motivation

Ask yourself why you are adding this to your life. Self-care? Exercise? A time to recharge. A place to problem- solve or create? You may need to remind yourself on the more challenging days.

2. Start simply

Start with something doable in terms of time and distance. Ask yourself: How much time can I commit over the course of the next month? Can I carve out 15, 20, 30 minutes each day? This will help determine your route. A walk around the neighborhood is a wonderful way to begin. Start small; take the first steps. Repeat for 5 days. Repeat again.

3. Stick to it for a month, without fail

It takes three to four weeks for something to become essential, for something to become a habit.

4. Do it without judgment, just walk

Try it. See how you feel. I decided initially to commit to every damn day, because for me it was helpful to not give myself an out: too cold, too rainy, too tired. But that might not work for you, and that’s OK. The pace doesn’t matter, the distance doesn’t matter. Just walk.

5. Prepare thoughtfully

Set a wake-up time. Get your things ready the night before. Ask yourself, what will help me get from waking to walking? Is there one thing that feels like a barrier — — cold toes and hands? How can I eliminate that barrier? For me it was double socks and toe warmers.

6. Keep a routine

It takes a splash of perseverance to make a habit stick, so honoring the routine — same time, same place — will help build your walking practice. “Once it’s a habit, exercise feels easier and doesn’t take as much willpower when you don’t feel like it,” says Charles Duhigg, author of “The Power of Habit.”

7. Invite others to join you

Having a walking partner can be a wonderful way to keep you motivated — someone counting on you can help get you out of bed. Ask yourself, who might be willing to join me? Even if it isn’t every day.

8. Acknowledge the time

Accept that you may have to give something up to create the time and space for this new practice. I believe we don’t just find time for things that matter — we make time. Ask yourself, what am I willing to do or stop doing to make this happen?

9. Record your walks

Keep track of your walks. Ask yourself, how can I build in a bit of accountability and record-keeping so that when I look back I am reminded of the walk. Make a note, tell a friend, take a picture. Note how you feel at the end of each walk. A walk brings its own lessons, challenges and rewards. I have never been on a walk where I didn’t feel better after. Never. Keep track and enjoy looking back.

10. Observe the times when it isn’t fun

There is a lot to learn from the hard walks. Ask yourself, what on earth was that? What just happened? What was hard about it? What did I take away from it?

The truth of the matter is there are many ‘ways’ and ‘reasons’ to walk. Walk for health, walk for fitness, walk for connection, walk for clarity, walk for grounding, walk to get from point A to point B. My walking practice embodies all of that and is about staying connected to the world, and to the present moment. Much like in meditation or yoga, attention brought to our bodies and our breath has a profound impact.

During the pandemic of 2020 and 2021, walking became a crucial form of preventive healing. Perhaps it was always about healing, but I’m not sure I would have used that word a few years ago. My morning walk felt like medicine. A way to walk towards the beauty of the day and away from things that no longer served me. It is both a mindset and a practice that has brought me endless comfort. Interestingly, doctors are now prescribing a walk in a natural setting to improve mood, and ease levels of anxiety, stress and depression. Nature bathing or forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku) has been shown to have quite a profound impact on mood. In a study published by the Japanese Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine journal, it was suggested that forest bathing and walks outside “can lead to improvements in physiological and psychological health in people of working age, as demonstrated by the decrease in blood pressure and the alleviation of negative psychological parameters.” Go find some trees and walk amongst them, whether a forest, park, tree-lined street, or a single tree near you. There is solace in knowing this ‘prescription’ for healing.

I had a friend who once said that jet lag was the spirit trying to catch up with the physical movement of the body flying from one place to another. Walking is an antidote to the wild speed at which we live our lives, to our insistence on rushing and doing everything quickly. It allows us to exist at a similar pace to our natural environment, even when we are in an urban setting.

Another beautiful thing about walking is that it doesn’t require a membership, a monthly pass or a sign-up sheet. Simply put on your shoes and walk out the door: find a street, field, sidewalk, hiking trail, bike path, backyard, front yard, local park, back road, long route to your friend’s house … and go. If you’re in a wheelchair, there are likely some routes that are more welcoming. Morning walk can shift to adapt to what you have going on each day. This was one of the critical elements that made this practice doable for me. I could cut the walk short or start an hour early should other things in my day require attention and time. There were some days when I needed an extra hour to prepare something for work and I would simply shorten the walk. Or if I was feeling sick I would wait until the sun came up and slowly walk around the neighborhood.

Walking may not be a powerful aerobic workout but it is perhaps the most powerful and injury-free form of exercise around. There is no shortage of scientific research to back up the effectiveness of adding walking to your routine. One study found that 10 to 12 minutes of walking increased self-confidence, mood and attentiveness. And, as we’ve already seen, walking in nature significantly reduces negative thoughts and improves brain health. Walking is a superpower. No question.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about my walks.

How many miles is your MorningWalk?

On average eight to 10 miles, but honestly the mileage and pace don’t matter.

What time do you usually walk?

I am generally out the door around 5 a.m.

Do you prefer walking alone or walking with others?

I need to walk by myself most of the time, but I love, love, love having company. During the pandemic, it was my primary way to socialize with friends.

Do you do any other workouts?

I don’t consider MorningWalk a workout, although every now and again I will add in a little saucy running for no other reason than a different pace feels good. As far as other workouts go, sometimes I hop on an ergometer (rowing machine). I spent many years as a competitive rower, so getting on the erg is a wonderful reminder of what it felt like to be super fit.

Does time of day matter?

For me, first thing in the morning is the most impactful time of day. I love seeing the world wake up. And starting my day with a few hours outdoors where I feel most at home has become an essential way to take care of myself.

How cold does it have to get for you not to go?

I always go. Every. Damn. Day. Over time, I have found the right gear to enable me to always go. Part of this practice was to overcome resistance/hurdles/loud voice in my head that would say “You don’t need to go … stay in bed … it’s too cold.” I love my headlamp, cozy hat, hand warmers and my puffy coat which feels like a hug.

How do you decide on a route?

There isn’t a science or logic to it. It is a bit of serendipity with a splash of convenience. The thing about a walking practice is that it can be spontaneous. No class time. No memberships required.

Why did you start when you did? Did you set out with a specific goal in mind a decade ago or did you just start walking?

My goal was simple: to spend more time outdoors. I realized that was where I was happiest and so I needed to build that into my day. It has evolved into something essential. It’s a practice that turned into a walk around the world.

How do you keep at it?

It has become easier over time. I now know that every walk is a good walk. Things are always better after walking. It took many walks to figure this out.

What are your favorite things to listen to?

I listen to music, podcasts, and books about half of the time and the other half is quiet, internal work.

How fast do you normally walk?

I don’t keep track, but I do eight miles in about 2 hours.
Roughly.

Do you do the same route every day?

I have about half a dozen routes I do regularly. I actually like the repetition because it feels familiar and friendly. Some of the walks I have done so often I can do them with eyes closed and simply focused on my breath.

What is the most surprising benefit you’ve found on your walks?

How waking up and immediately adding energy to the day impacts the whole day, positively.

Do you set a specific intention for each walk?

I intend to … however in reality some days it is all about walking the grumpies out or attending to a question. On my most thoughtful days, yes, I have an intention: gratitude, integrity, generosity.

What is your favorite MorningWalk?

Sunrise walk, by myself, on New Year’s Day. I feel such optimism and clarity in that moment.

If you ever had to miss a day, how do you think you would feel? Is the ‘undefeated’ feeling part of it?

I haven’t missed a day, so I really don’t know. I don’t mean for this to sound as if there is bravado embedded it in. There have certainly been very short walks, around the block, for example, when I’ve felt unwell. Is feeling ‘undefeated’ part of it? I don’t think so, instead my impetus is ‘always go.’ The familiar routine is a very grounding feeling.

What are the top three things you’ve learned about forming and maintaining habits?

1. Making a commitment to yourself and following through is love.

2. Meaningful habits happen step by step, not all at once.

3. Habits are powerful because they create neurological cravings.

Do you ever walk without your phone?

I always have my phone because I take a photo each day as a visual diary and an act of accountability. Also, it makes sense from a safety point of view.

What changes when you’re away from home?

The first thing I do when I am in a new location is look for a walking route. Often, I will use an app called AllTrails. (I also love iNaturalist when I am out and about for the identification of plants, birds, and bugs. This app allows you to tap into a community of naturalists.)

Do Walk: Navigate Earth, Mind and Body. Step by Step. is a collection of lessons, stories, tips, and a splash of inspiration. Click here to order your copy.

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Libby DeLana is an award-winning executive creative director who has spent her career in the ad world. She started walking in 2011 and hasn’t missed a day since; as a result, she has walked the circumference of the earth. Her first published book is Do Walk: Navigate Earth, Mind and Body. Step by Step. You can connect with Libby on Instagram @parkhere or @thismorningwalk.

Mindful Walking

Originally published by TOAST Magazine.

Photography by Michael Piazza. 

Since 2011, Libby DeLana has walked every day, traversing over 25,000 miles—equivalent to the earth’s circumference. In her first book, Do Walk, she writes about how walking can be a grounding and spiritual act, bolstering your connection to the natural world. We have a conversation about her mindful ‘Morning Walk’ practice and how it can help us to be more fulfilled; she considers it “a mindset” for “adding energy and space to your day.” Libby shares what she’s learnt from her many walks from her home in Newburyport, a coastal city in Massachusetts, on both an everyday and more profound scale. 

Do Walk is your first book. What was the writing process like for you, coming to it for the first time?

I'm a creative director in the advertising world, so I'm around writers a lot and I really admire the craft. I suppose I've been writing this book for ten years because it's about this Morning Walk practice. In many ways, the subjects that I was writing about were bedded within me. It was just a matter of giving shape.

I can certainly see that. I can imagine when you're on your walks, you have an internal monologue. Was it easy to write because of that?

That's a great question because I'm not sure it was, I don’t think I was able to initially put words to what it was that I was feeling. But once I knew I was writing a book, I would think about it chapter by chapter and ask myself, what was the lesson? What stories might be interesting? I also asked others what they’d find useful. It was through people sharing ideas that I was able to coalesce a cohesive book.

That's interesting. I was thinking that walking can be quite a solitary thing. Or does it actually make you feel connected with other people?

Especially during the pandemic, it was my primary source of connection. I have a bunch of walking friends and we all felt safe with our masks on going outside and walking together. Over the years, I've also met incredible people in the walking community through Instagram. I've met up with some of the most lovely, generous, kind people as a result of it. 

That's really lovely. So what made you start considering walking as a mindful practice—when was that crossover point, when you started approaching it differently?

When I first started, it was because my life had become so consumed with to-do lists and errands and meetings. I was missing a key component that makes me happy: being outdoors. It puts things in perspective; I find it incredibly healing. So at that point I made sure that being outside was a part of my day. At the beginning, I'm not sure I would have been able to have said that it was meditative walking—I probably wouldn't have even used the word practice. That shift came a couple years into it when I realised what I was getting from it, which was much more spiritual in a way. Then I started reading about Buddhist practice and Thich Nhat Hanh and thinking about pilgrims and walking as a spiritual practice, so things began to slowly shift.

So that spiritual feeling you get from walking, that helps you emotionally from day to day. On a grander scale, have you had any significant, important realisations? 

Yes. I no longer wear earbuds because I'm finding more and more that in the quiet is where the answers are for me. And when life is going on or I'm listening to music or podcasts I don't often tune in with what my heart's feeling about something, what my gut says. It's so easy to dismiss the information that comes from those two centres. I probably hadn't allowed much time or space for those sort of gut reactions, instincts, more subtle information. And I could only hear that for myself when it became quiet. Creating the space through walking provided that. I tend to walk in magnificent places, with these trees like cathedrals. It makes me feel such humility, because boy, do you feel beautifully small, insignificant. There's a lot of learning in that.

Do you think it's possible to have a meditative experience on a regular walk, say to run an errand, or do you have to set out with that intention?

I can tap into that mindset, but that's because I've been doing it for a long time. If you were to ask people who have a seated meditation practice, ‘can you tap into that feeling if you're sitting in a meeting?’ I think they would say yes. It's back to breath, it's back to staying present and grounded, and making sure that you're attentive to the moment. And I would say it's no different for the walk. I like the sensation of movement; movement for me is comforting. 

And do you ever push yourself to go walking, even if you're not really feeling in the mood?

Yes. I've committed to go every day, no matter what. But if I'm feeling really ill, it's probably not a great idea to stay out for two hours. I had pneumonia a couple of years ago, and I knew that obviously my big walks were not going to be beneficial, but I also did know that getting outside was going to make me feel better. I didn't have to go fast. I didn't have to go a long distance.

Is that the advice you'd give to someone who wants to get out more, but is finding it hard to make the move?

The other thing is to look at where the barriers are, because I think for all of us, there are moments when it feels like, oh, screw it, it's raining too hard, or my toes are cold. The way I look at those moments is as opportunities and friction areas to address, to put a little attention to. What I needed to solve was remembering to go out, so I put my shoes right by my bed, then I can get up and go. The thing that I have really learned is that a walk always makes things better. Even if things are great, now that I know they can be even better, I'm like, heck yeah, I'm going for a walk!

Are there any other activities that you think are similarly meditative, for those who are less able to walk or less able to get out and about?

I do think seated practice is great and brings you to the same place. I have a friend who lives in a situation where it's harder for her to get out into the sort of natural spaces that I find healing. And she has a seated practice and she puts plants next to her.

So she can still be close to nature?

Yes, and where she practices is next to a narrow window, and I think her cat actually sits with her! A Morning Walk practice doesn't have to look like mine. There are many beautiful, unique ways to tap into the things that can be powerful.

What, above all, did you want to achieve with this book?

Part of my hope in writing this book was that it might inspire somebody to think about going for a walk a couple of times a week, and feel comfort hearing from somebody that, as you noted, there are days I don't want to go, but I know in my heart, in my head that it's a nourishing tool. It isn't about how far or how fast you go.

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Interview by Alice Simkins. 

Do Walk by Libby DeLana is published by Do Books. Libby DeLana is an award-winning executive creative director, designer/art director by trade, who has spent her career in the ad world. This article is based off an excerpt from Libby’s first published book, Do Walk: Navigate Earth, Mind and Body. Step by Step. Click here to get your copy of Do Walk.