I’ve been in a love affair for the past ten years.
This may come as a shock to those who know me, but the truth remains. I have been, and always will be in love.
It all began in Paris, as most classic, slightly cliche love affairs do. The City of Lights and its array of subtle to spectacular sites would lure me away for hours. It was a brimming outdoor gallery where you could wander away the day. Every street corner an homage to beauty. No arrondissement left untouched by attention to detail. No street sign or subway stop left unchristened by sensuality.
I was on foot every moment I could spare, letting the city reveal itself. Hungry to see more, I stopped only for coffee, pastries or wine. So many pistachio macarons were sacrificed to the cause, which to my twenty three year old complex palette, tasted like the adult version of lucky charms. I was in paradise.
Little did I know, I was falling in love. With every step I took I was creating a connection, a relationship that would see me through both the highs and lows of the decade to come.
My lover appeared to me on a soft gray day. 5 hours of wandering flew by like 5 minutes. I felt an ember-like glow in the center of my heart. My body felt calm and strong, my mind was clear, my soul at peace. A smile started in my heart and spread all the way to my toes. I quietly realized;
I had fallen in love with walking.
From that day onward my lover was always there for me. Faithful and true, every time I step out my door walking is there waiting patiently for me. If given the chance, I will walk two to six hours in a day. Every time it ends up being worth it.
When yoga became consistent in my life, walking only complimented it. Especially post yoga walks, when my brain was a fog of sivasana bliss and my muscles the consistency of applesauce. Walking slowly brought me back to the solidified, more serene version of self.
I suppose it’s quite French to have two lovers: Walking and Yoga. But this girl has needs and each of these movements serves a purpose. Both bring me back to my center, just in a different way.
Yoga brings me back to my physical and emotional body. Walking clears away mental cobwebs and concerns. Both movements brighten my spirit.
It’s so important to find a movement that loves you back. For me it has turned into long walks, yoga, weight lifting and experimentation with new forms of movement.
I’m so glad I committed to walking. What I have given to walking, it has offered ten fold back to me. Anytime I feel lost, I walk myself back to a sense of home. I walk myself back to health. I walk myself into love….with myself.
Walk away from worry. Walk into Love.
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