The Journey of a Thousand Miles – Truly Does Begin with a Single Step

I was out walking…?This is nothing novel or particularly interesting, as it is something I’ve done practically every day since the pandemic began.?My walking routine started simply to leave my house and get outside in a fairly closed off physical world.??Little did I realize just how much this new habit would change my perspective.

On a walk this past weekend, my math brain randomly started wondering just how far I’ve travelled on the pavement so far.?Two, three, four or more miles a day (nearly every day) for over 15 months.?Well surpassing 1,000 miles of one foot in front of the other.?In the warmest summer sunshine and in true Minnesota, face-numbing 'DARN cold'.??Once I realized the milestone I’d surpassed, I also started to think about what this walking journey has taught me so far…

Walk your own path:?I have the following quote up inside my coat closet.?It reminds me to walk my own journey more confidently in all aspects of my life (and celebrate the amazing diversity in each of our paths vs. comparing them.) ?“…more importantly, your life is your life. ?Don’t change your journey so that it matches someone else’s. We need to walk different paths so the whole world can be explored. Revel in the differences. And enjoy where you are, in this moment.” (Author Unknown)?

Seek new in the familiar:?Many days my path took me along one of the same routes in my neighborhood.?It would have been easy to set my eyes down on the pavement and just get the walk done.?Yet when I started looking around, I saw new things all the time.?As the seasons changed, as nature evolved, and as the neighborhood ebbed and flowed with holidays, activities, etc. ?I bought a bird book and identified so many beautiful species I’d never noticed before. ?A familiar path can always teach you something new with clear eyes and an open mind.

Sometimes, it’s good to leave the map behind:?I also like to refer to this as brain wander time.?As a very planful, determined person it felt strange to set off without a mapped route, at times. ?Whether in a local park or around the neighborhood I found when my path was free and open to exploration, my mind and its creativity were free to wander as well. ?Like those chose your own adventure books I loved as a child, the art of discovery opened my mind to creative solutions to almost anything.?

Calm is a superpower:??Taking care of my physical and mental well being is so critical and even more so in stressful times like a pandemic.?Walking helped me find and maintain balance.?Whether I was thinking through a work problem, praying for a friend, appreciating nature, taking deep breaths, or blasting my favorite music (and yes, I’ve been caught singing out loud a few times,) this recurring action of feet on the pavement contributed to my physical and mental health.?For this lesson I am extremely grateful.?Balance (AKA - superpower maintenance) isn’t always easy to achieve, but to me it is worth the commitment and makes me an all around better person.

Enjoy the journey (the destination is a bonus):?It’s amazing to accomplish a goal or pass a milestone (to reach the ultimate destination.)?During this process I was reminded of the importance of the journey as well. It’s the journey you look back on, and draw experience from.?It’s the journey you are proud of.?Each step, each obstacle overcome, the times you didn’t feel up to it and tried anyway (negative 20 degrees - seriously Minnesota?) … the growth you made along the way. It’s the joy of those near perfect days when you could seemingly walk forever.?Evolving is part of the bigger adventure and that is what makes the journey worthwhile!?In fact, I think I will lace up my shoes now - on route to another 1,000 miles. My journey is still unfolding!