Walking is something that we all do from an early age, but as we grow older, it is something we do not do enough of. During our youth, we spend a lot of time walking because it is the only way we have to go from Point A to Point B, without relying on our parents for a ride. However, as we grow older and we get that wonderful license to drive, we end up taking the car everywhere and our bodies get bigger.
The truth is that walking is a wonderful thing for your body, mind and soul. As my wife and I work through Our Green Year, we have begun to walk more and more around the town we live in. We walk to the store everyday to pick up fresh food. We walk for fun around our neighborhood, and we go hiking in the mountains when we have the chance to enjoy nature.
As humans in the Western World, we do not walk enough. It was only last week that we saw someone get out of the store we were in, get in the car and drive across a parking lot to Wal-Mart. The distance could not have been more than 200 feet, but they drove nonetheless.
Walking is something we need to do to keep ourselves healthy. Just walking 30 minutes per day can help you develop a strong respiratory system, while helping out the environment. One of the biggest reasons we face environmental calamity these days is because of laziness. Driving five blocks from home to the store is what the suburbs are all about. Driving to work instead of walking (within reasonable distance) is something people prefer to do because it is easier. We have become lazy and we have devices that are hundreds of pounds and which spew greenhouse gases to transport our fat asses around.
So, what can we do? Walk! Help the environment and yourself by taking a walk to the store, to the park or to work. Take the time to go for a 30 minute walk each day. Turn off the television and go out to see your neighborhood. Introduce yourself to your neighbors and help create a community in your corner of the suburbs.
Walking is easy to do. All you need to do is take the time, have the desire and put one foot in front of the other.
