We all know this famous quote by Lao Tzu: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” But what happens next? What happens halfway through, when the body is exhausted, and the mind wants to flee? What happens when we find ourselves in challenging terrain, a long way from home, and a long way from our destination?
Walking in nature can be meditative, it offers a pace and rhythm of movement that feels sustainable to me. The uneven ground which requires attention, the moment of wonder that captures the awareness and imagination, whether it’s a dramatic landscape, a wedge of geese returning for the winter, flashes of colour from wild orchids, or seeing a bird of prey. Walking in nature is yoga in action; the balance of body, mind and emotion coming together for the immediate experience. There’s very little opportunity for the mind to wander when the view is stunning, or the landscape is challenging. The experience becomes one of full presence.
I recently walked the West Highland Way, a 96-mile path from Milngavie to Fort William in Scotland. With eight days of walking ahead of me, carrying all the gear I needed, I wondered what gems of wisdom I’d uncover. I wondered if I’d come home changed.
By putting myself in the way of this challenge I had all the expectations and uncertainties you’d expect. It felt as though the walk would be a distilled experience of life. A safe and structured place to experience myself within, with clear boundaries about what is real and challenging. Rather than what can often feel like the blurred lines of everyday life, and the skewed sense of my own capacity simply because external factors continue to ask for more. My limitations and capacity on the walk would be clear because there was just me, my pack, and the path.
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March 2024
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