Tuesday, May 30, 2006

The Importance of a Daily Walk...

A walk every day is of great importance. There are several reasons why this is so.

The first reason is of course, physical fitness and health. To be effective, and Earth Steward must do their best to remain healthy and strong, enabling them to carry out their duties on a physical level. This is important, but not necessarily the most important reason for walking every day. To suit this purpose, a walk after having a meal is a good idea. This helps keep the metabolism up and helps aid in digestion.

Another very important reason for a daily walk is that it helps "reconnect" yourself with nature, with the biosphere were are charged with protecting. Take the time during your walk to notice the birds, plants, small animals, places where water gathers and where it remains dry. No other mode of transportation allows you to do this as effectively as walking. Even bicycling, which I love, you travel too fast to truly take in the full richness of detail you need to effectively monitor the environment cloase to your own home. If you don't know how the Earth is doing near your own home, who ever really will besides God?

Additionally, you will find that walking while paying close attention to nature has a restful and calming, renewing effect on the soul and emotional state. It just plain feels good to be close to nature, even if it's just the grass and birds in your own yard or the flowers and shrubbery along the sidewalk down your street.

If you are confined to a wheel chair of face some other disability, even then, rolling down the sidewalk for half an hour a day paying attention to nature and weather is still good for you provided there are no complications preventing you from going out.

If you are in a dense inner-urban area, bring life to the area around your home by growing plants outdoors in containers wherever allowed or permitted. You will be amazed at how it feels to care for life in this way. Additionally, plant life can help improve the tone and air quality of the urban environment. A roof garden, for instance, will lower cooling costs for the building while supplying oxygen and reducing the amount of energy that must be derived from buried carbon sources for cooling purposes.

Walking in an urban area, if you see someone taking the time to grow plants and greenery, take a moment to tell them how nice it is to see some life in the concrete jungle and how good their plants look. Help raise the emotional energy level in the place towards serenity.

Another reason for walking in your neighborhood is that it can help build a sense of community. It will allow you to get to know the neighbors, including people and wildlife.

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