John Green popularized the phrase “Taking a stupid walk for my stupid mental health.”
I actually love a nice long walk – some combination of 4 miles a day for 5 years with our dog Bijou and miles upon miles hiked with the Scout Troop I’m the Scoutmaster of.
I love a walk because it gets me outdoors in all kinds of weather. I love a walk because it’s a great chance to talk with someone you trust. I love a walk because your brain slows down to the pace of your feet. And I love a walk because it’s the best way I know to alchemize the churning in my brain and in so doing, calm it.
There’s a lot of churning in all of our brains right now. Yours and mine and our students and our neighbors and everyone we know.
Take a stupid walk for your stupid mental health.