National Walking Day
Today, April 2nd, 2025, is National Walking Day, and I can't think of a better way to celebrate it than to share why walking has become such an essential part of my life. Over the past decade, few things have influenced me more positively than my daily walks. I've walked countless miles, each step bringing new discoveries, mental clarity, and overall contentment.
I document my walks on social media whenever I'm in a special place. It’s my way of sharing the positivity and beauty I encounter along the path to what some would consider happiness. Each post typically includes a photo from the walk, a thoughtful quote, and my favorite hashtag, #justwalking. In addition, I like to listen to music during my walks. It enhances the journeys, making each walk not only therapeutic but enjoyable.
Interestingly, despite my love for walking, there are days when I have internal debates about whether to lace up my shoes or not. It’s astonishing how creative my mind can get with reasons not to walk. But inevitably, every walk becomes a conscious choice to invest in myself, and I have never regretted making that choice. On a side note, I have discovered that you should never have an internal debate about whether you should do something you know is good for you. Once the discussion starts in your head, you will most likely take the easy route and not walk, run, head to the gym, eat healthy, or do whatever you choose to do to create the best you. As Yoda would say, “Do or do not. There is no try. :)
For those curious about why I'm so passionate about promoting walking among friends and family, here are my top three reasons (although there are countless more):
Mental Fitness: Simply put, walking boosts my mood and increases my overall sense of happiness and contentment. There’s fascinating science behind why walking positively affects our brains, but that’s a story for another day. But let's just say if I start my walk with a mood of 3, I will return with at least a 7 or 8 ( based on Rusty’s Mood scale)
Mental Clarity and Creativity: Walking provides clarity and inspires creativity. Many of my best ideas and solutions to problems have come during walks. It’s no coincidence Steve Jobs favored "walking meetings," recognizing that movement stimulates innovative thinking. A prominent study by Marily Oppezzo and Daniel Schwartz (2014) at Stanford University showed that walking significantly boosts creative thinking. Their experiments demonstrated that participants generated more creative ideas—measured by divergent thinking—when walking compared to being seated. If you're stuck mentally, take a walk; it could be your best step forward.
Being Present in the Moment: Walking helps me truly see and appreciate the world around me. I always try to look for something beautiful to photograph ( using my iPhone) during each walk, and this simple act has taught me how often I have overlooked remarkable moments and details before. If you want to truly discover a neighborhood, town, or city, take a walk—you’ll see it from a completely different perspective.
And yes, I haven’t even touched on the numerous health benefits, which are incredible in their own right. Trust me on this; take a walk and discover the magic for yourself.
