I Found this on a Walk

“Do not believe any idea that was not born in the open air and of free movement.” – Nietzsche

Have you ever had “one of those days” where you can’t quite solve the problem, or get anything of substance accomplished? Where or every minute seems to either scream by or go as slow as molasses?

I have.  Recently even.

I was having one of those morning a few weeks back (yes, morning – hadn’t even made it to mid-day!) when I happened upon the Nietzsche quote above.  I was struggling with an issue, a quandary if you will, and couldn’t seem to find a solution – or even an idea of a solution.

So, I decided to take a walk.

I set my phone down, closed my laptop, and laced up my walking shoes.

It sounds like I started to embark on quite an adventure – but really it was just the walking path by our home.  I had no destination, no agenda, and no pre-determined time, distance or steps to achieve.

“But the beauty is in the walking – we are betrayed by destinations.” – Gwen Thomas

I quickly lost myself in the walk, the sheer freedom of it was liberating.  I was free of all the restraints –

• The expectations of others on my time
• The self-imposed expectation of a solution
• The pile of un-read documents on my desk
• The unfinished email series for our upcoming Speaker Community
• The looming deadlines

I cleared my mind and began listening to the quiet, contemplating the beauty and unpredictability of nature.  I thought about all the recent wildfires around the world and felt a wave of gratitude for the privilege of wandering through these woods.

I noticed things on the path I had never seen before.  It was a familiar place, but even so, never the same place twice.  Seasons change, nature shifts, my eyes and perceptions fall on different things as I meander along.

Through this simple, natural act of walking, the cluttered and jumbled web of thoughts began to unwind.  Slowing down the input of new information, other’s opinions, and the push for answers was invigorating.  I can see why so many people dream of life in a slower paced society.

I guess that is why thousands of people vacation on the islands or take 4-week vacations to explore nature or other “less-digitized” destinations.  We all crave the serenity.

Think about it, when is the last time you heard of someone desiring to vacation with a go-go-go agenda or start their time off with an endless to-do list?  And if they do the ‘12 countries in 14 days tour’ – they invariably say “I need a vacation to recover from my vacation” when they return!

It has been said that walking is the slowest form of transportation but the fastest way to self-realignment, answers to life’s struggles, and innovation. 

As the blood started pumping, my brain was jolted into over-drive and the ideas started popping!

“All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.” – Nietzsche

As I wandered, I began to wonder and explore all kinds of options to solve some of the roadblocks standing in the way.  I imagined crazy solutions, unconventional theories, pie-in-the-sky ideas, and ultimately the breakthrough idea dawned on me.  An innovative path that would absolutely work and make an impact on our business and our community.

The greatest thing about walking is that whether you are wealthy or poor, old or young, male or female, any culture, any race, any disposition, any nationality, any nation, any state, any city….

Walking requires nothing from us but to do it.  For most, it is as natural as breathing.  We don’t need any special equipment or even expensive high-tech shoes.  It is an equal-access activity – so we have no excuses.

Yet it is not always easy – and it becomes particularly hard when we need to take the walk alone.  But those are the walks that make us stronger, that provide us clarity and solutions. 

“I have never thought so much, existed so much, lived so much, been so much myself…as in the journeys which I have made alone and on foot.” – Jean-Jacques Rousseau

So, the next time you need clarity, or creativity, or just a change of scenery to clear your mind and find the calm in the chaos – lace up your walking shoes and go out for a stroll.  You may find that going out is what it takes to really dive in!