Insights from walking around England and Wales: #11 “The soul’s joy lies in doing.” —Percy Bysshe Shelley

Three intrepid women in their golden years reminded me of Shelley’s words, when they walked with me on the south coast of Wales.

“Molly”, the mother of a work colleague, had kindly offered to host me. She emailed me before I arrived to say that she and her “walker gang” would guide me for a seven-mile leg in the Gower Peninsula, to ensure I didn’t get lost.

Three redoubtable ladies and I met at the designated time. Their ages ranged from seventy-three to eighty-four. The weather gods were beaming sunshine down on us, brightening the sea, the rock-strewn sandy bays, and our spirits. The ladies apologized for absences of the others that day – one had a granddaughter visiting, another a husband in hospital, a third was away on holiday. Then it was down to business.

Would I like a walking stick so I could keep up with them, they teased? And who did I think I was trying to impress with that map, they knew the route. Off we sauntered, along a trail which involved sharp ascents and crumbly downslopes. We stumbled down steep gravelly paths to find hidden coves with exquisite rock formations. The women grumbled proudly about their grandchildren, updated each other on the gossip, and asked if they should slow down for me.

?They had become friends decades earlier through a shared interest in helping girl guides (girl scouts). Teaching their daughters and other girls how to be self-sufficient in the countryside. And of the value of service to the community. They were pleased to see their daughters and granddaughters following in their footsteps. They told me stories of raising funds to build a sturdy cabin for the girls, and leading camping trips into the Welsh hills. They were still volunteering now, although not sleeping in tents.

Later that evening, over a whisky, Molly and her husband told me how they had also spent several decades leading Duke of Edinburgh award scheme expeditions for young people (a UK program somewhat akin to the Eagle Scout accreditation). Great fun, it had been.

This group of women had volunteered and organized throughout their lives for young people. Year in, year out. This bound them together; they had had so much fun, and they were still at it. They collected the joy in life, whisked it up, and spread it around, all the while being eminently practical. The soul’s joy truly does lie in doing.

In 2018-19 I walked 4,300 miles around the coast of England and Wales to raise awareness that cervical cancer can be eliminated in a generation. I share insights every week. My book From Grief to Love tells the stories of the inspiring people I met that year.

?A longer version of this post can be found here.