This morning a problem that had been simmering in the back of my thoughts for weeks broke into a full boil. I left on my morning walk feeling grumpier than usual.
I crossed the river via Victoria Road bridge. At the other side I encountered a clump of barberry, its fall berries ripening from apricot-pink to coral red. I stopped to take some pictures.
After a moment admiring the bushes, I noticed my unpleasant mood had lifted. My thoughts had shifted from futilely analyzing a complex social dilemma to experiencing a purely physical phenomenon. My perspective had moved from inward to outward.
This is the primary reason I like to walk so much. Focusing on sensory stimuli is one of the best ways of relaxing the mind. Not that we can make our problems go away by ignoring them, but setting them aside for a few minutes, an hour or an afternoon can help us approach them again with a more constructive attitude. It might even give the subconscious time to process and propose some alternatives.
People have numerous ways of stimulating the senses to escape life's rigours. Substance abuse and addiction arises from habitual use of chemicals to switch off physical or mental pain. Other more natural physical functions, like eating and sex, have a similar effect, and we might use them too excess, too.
We have many ways of stimulating our senses without abusing our bodies. A hot bath with fragrant oils can work wonders, as can playing a musical instrument.
One of the advantages of communing with nature is that it tells an endlessly changing story. From season to season, the woods, rivers and fields offer scenes of transformation. The arrival of a new singing bird, the ripening of wild berries, the flush of fall colours or the formation of ice crystals on a pond ensure we will not grow bored from day to day. The Earth offers new discoveries every day.
Unlike alcohol or even food, walking outdoors won't mess with your body chemistry. In fact during the year's dark season, spending regular time in broad daylight will have a salubrious effect. You will enjoy the benefit of all-natural inputs to your nervous system rather than artificial ones.
Sensory experiences cannot always be pleasant. Injury or illness may cause direct pain or suppress the capacity for pleasure. Sometimes we see or hear things that disturb us. This might even happen while you're walking. The other day I discovered some wildflowers had been hacked down by some careless person, and it upset me for hours. Sometimes when unpleasant emotions arise, we can't have the luxury of leaving our office cubbyholes or walking out the door on domestic troubles.
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