Walking changed my life. There is something very special about getting outside in the fresh air. You can hear the birds singing, feel the wind flowing over your body and look with wonder at the ever changing clouds in the sky.
Walking does not require any special athletic skill or expensive outfitting; you only need to grab a good pair of shoes. A real bonus about walking is it very portable; you can head out for a walk most anywhere you go.
I have thought through many of life’s challenges and found many solutions while out for a stroll. Being outside also brings a renewed appreciation of this beautiful planet we call earth. Here are some examples of how walking has positively impacted my life.
Camino de Santiago: When my wife wanted to walk the 500-mile Camino in Spain, I thought she had lost her mind. But after begrudgingly joining her it changed everything. It amplified my drive to connect people with others. Sometimes we forget, but we are all more alike than we are different. Connecting people is now one of my missions. he Camino also connected me spiritually. Here I found God.
We hope to host an event called "A Night on the Camino" where we invite others who have made this pilgrimage. Here you will hear many different perspectives about walking this trail. Email me if you are interested in sharing your story.
Writing: Walking brought me to writing – when the former Editor of this newspaper asked me to blog while on this trail, my first response was what is blogging? Well, this got me started and I have never looked back. Other than family and friends, writing has been one of my most gratifying endeavors
Move Tallahassee: When the Democrat’s former Editor relocated he asked me to take the helm of this walking group. When I agreed, my first thought driving home was “What was I thinking?’ As a matter of fact, this role is incredibly rewarding.
Here are a few things to share about Move.
We meet around twice a month to walk in neighborhoods and greenways. We have walked in almost every part of town. Many people remark that during these walks they discover a part of Tallahassee they have never experienced.
Also in this divided nation, people from all aspects of life show up. Here they share stories and laugh. In many of our pictures, everyone is smiling. This is a small way of connecting people in our community.
At our walks anywhere from 30 – 100 people show up. We once had 300. The price is right because it is free. To get email notifications of future walks go to www.meetup.com and join Move Tallahassee. We have nearly 2,000 people on our email list.
Camino Portuguese: My friend Jerry has convinced me to join him on a trek from Lisbon, Portugal, to Santiago, Spain. This hike over mountains and along the coast is 628.8 km or 390.7 miles. My wife Morgan will join us somewhere along the way. We are looking at traveling in May. He is 75 years old; I will be 65. I really cannot afford the time or money to go; but considering recent events, I cannot afford not to go. Somehow things will work out. I hope you will follow us as we make this journey.
Israel: We have made and canceled plans to make this journey. As a result of the recent instability, we are rescheduling this trip for the fall. Our plan is to hike the 40-mile Jesus Trail, from Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee. We also intend to spend time walking and experiencing the old city of Jerusalem. It must be incredible to experience the confluence of three major religions in our world.
Getting outside in the fresh air can have a huge impact on your life. Life can be grand if you let it. You don’t want to miss the feeling of "It’s great to be alive."
So, I urge you, for your mental and physical health, grab a friend or family member, or go solo, get outside, in your neighborhood, or out on one of our greenways, or in our parks. This could be your opportunity to think out an important issue or connect with someone else. Walking could also change your life!
Are you in?
Contact Gregg Patterson at Gregg.patterson@yahoo.com