Meditation in Motion

As part of my diabetic makeover, I’ve started walking regularly again.  This is good for me not only physically, but mentally. Walking seems to unclog my mind and gets the streams of thought and creativity flowing more freely. I’ve read somewhere that walking is called “meditation in motion”, and for me that is true.

Personally, I prefer not to listen to music while I walk. I also don’t usually walk with other people because they tend to want to talk. Or, my personality being what it is, I feel like I have to talk to them. When I’m walking, I want to think.

The other problem I have walking with other people is that almost everyone walks faster than I do. Left to my own devices, I stroll. In German, the word for “stroll” is “bummel“. Isn’t that great? I bummel around the walking trail and let people pass me by. Most of them look pretty intent on passing me.

Of course the issue with creativity flowing while you’re walking is that you’re usually pretty far from a computer. I can’t stand the sound of my own voice, so I don’t use a voice recorder (besides, that’s not the way I write). So I take a small notepad with me and write things down as I think of them. I try to keep walking at the same time that I’m writing, which can be interesting. I am not known for my grace. But so far not much damage has been done.

I don’t always work on my writing as I walk. Sometimes I plan my future. When I’m walking, I can make detailed plans to be the queen of the universe and they all seem possible. Sometimes I just think long thoughts. Sometimes I don’t think at all, as far as I can tell, but when I get back I find things I didn’t know were bothering me have worked themselves out. Sometimes walking is just an excuse to get away from my desk.

Comedian Steven Wright said that “everything is within walking distance, if you have the time.” And for me, what’s within walking distance is myself. It’s so easy to get trapped inside – in our houses, in our cubicles, in our minds. We need to get up, get out, and move around a little bit.

So, go on. Take a walk. Or better yet, just bummel. 🙂