Walking does it

 

Well when you are stuck at home and travelling overseas is still a risk and a great hassle you have to look within your own country. Of course it is worse when you are living in an island state like Singapore with no hinterland; which is the reason why every holiday season will see a mass exodus out of the country. 

The recent weeks, with my husband being newly retired, we discovered a few nature walks which are quite refreshing. I didn't know Singapore still has many forested trails in addition to the coastal broad-walks, river and reservoir parks as well as botanical gardens. In the past I balked at the monotony of our manicured gardens, the blazing heat and the brow beating humidity which discourage one to venture outdoor. Thus walking has never been part of my exercise regime. Instead I attend air-cond fitness classes or swim in the late afternoons. The only outdoor exercise is my weekly Sunday 8-am taichi class when I have to pull myself out of bed so I wouldn't miss too much of it. 

With the suspension of fitness classes and quotas placed on the club's swimming pool I forced myself to walk, with a target of minimum 5000 steps per day. First I discovered much much more about my neighbourhood including small parks, a charming Japanese cemetery niched inside a residential estate, a broad canal/river just half an hour walk from home and quaint houses a few streets away. Of course I am still fussy over the weather choosing only cloudy days or timing walks after the rain.

Then I began to venture further from home taking a bus or train to forested places where I can do my nature walk even when it is sunny and hot. Where once I would never think of walking anywhere further than one bus stop , I now find walking no longer a chore and really quite pleasant especially when you are with nature. I have learnt to breach my 'comfort zone' and discovered lots of interesting places and gained new experiences. When walking alone I find myself more engaged with the world. The endorphins generated makes me comfortable after the walk and both body and soul feel restored.

“Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness; I have walked myself into my best thoughts and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it.” -- Soren Kierkegaard (philosopher)