The simple act of walking has brought me so much joy

I have always been a walker.

I walk to be outside. To clear my head, process my thoughts, reflect and lift my mood. To connect with people and the streets, nature and the environment around me. To slow down and just watch the world go by.

My preferred means of transport

Walking has always been my preferred means of transport.

I've moved around a few times — Melbourne, London, Sydney and, most recently, Newcastle. There really is nothing quite like your feet to help you find your way around a new city.

As someone who doesn't have a great sense of direction, walking is the way I familiarise myself with new surroundings. Finding landmarks and places of interest to help me learn about the local area and to guide you home.

It helped me to foster social connection too. People often greeted me and made small talk as they strolled past or pottered in their gardens. Something that was much less common during my time in bigger cities.

It happened more frequently when my attention was tuned in to the world around me; my phone out of sight, in my pocket, or at home.

A sense of time and place

Walking around my neighbourhood also helped me find a sense of place and time. I watched the seasons change through the trees and flowers — the frangipanis of summer, the magnolias and jacarandas of spring, and the golden-hued leaves of autumn.

Through my walks, I've also observed the changes occurring in our city. The gently ageing homes that were once commonplace in our suburb, now sport freshly renovated facades as gentrification washes through our corner of the city.

When travelling, exploring destinations by foot has taken me places I'd likely never have found had I been in a car, bus, or train. Little piazzas tucked away off busy streets, beautiful green spaces hidden among tall buildings, and sweet eateries where I ate the best meals of my trip. Creating experiences and connections with a place that otherwise may not have happened.

An act of normalcy

My daughter was born three days before Australia went into a national lockdown in March 2020. Fear gripped me, a first-time mother with a newborn.

Lucky as I was to have my husband, I felt the isolation of being separated from my family in Melbourne and unable to properly access support from loved ones or a nearby parents' group.

Even when we were required to stay within five kilometres of our home, our little family always found joy and release in bushwalks and strolls at quiet beaches.

Being on foot also seems to open up conversations with loved ones that would perhaps not otherwise take place. The movement, changing landscape, and fresh air perhaps allowing us to feel less vulnerable than when looking at them in the eye.

Mental and physical benefits of walking

While acknowledging that not everyone has the time or ability to walk where and when they need to safely and easily, walking tends to be a relatively accessible way to be active.

The mental and physical benefits are plentiful too.

Australian health guidelines recommend a minimum of 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity physical activity for adults per week.

In fact, a study published in The British Journal of Sports Medicine earlier this year found that even 11 minutes of brisk walking a day can considerably lower your risk of cardiovascular diseases, various cancers and premature death.

As French philosopher Frédéric Gros, in his book Philosophy of Walking, writes, "Walking is the best way to go more slowly than any other method that has ever been found. To walk, you need to start with two legs. The rest is optional."

Lisa Cugnetto is a writer and editor who lives in sunny Mulubinba/Newcastle. She likes to write about people, organisations, and businesses doing good and interesting things.