Of the many topics one could write about in a journal, a regular walk is another subject that could grace the pages of your personal book. If you take a morning, mid-day, or evening constitutional or go hiking and enjoy it, writing about the walk can be fun.
Often when you search for discussions of walking journals they are for the purpose of measuring health, (e.g tracking heart rate, miles walked, etc.) which, of course, you can do.
However, what yours truly is advocating here is to use your journal for the expression of enjoyment of moving your body. Journaling about your walk can be a way of extending the pleasure of the activity.
Charles Dickens was fond of describing walks. In The Uncommercial Traveller, the author notes the following:
My walking is of two kinds: one, straight on end to a definite goal at a round pace; one, objectless, loitering, and purely vagabond.
Charles Dickens, The Uncommercial Traveller
It’s a shame that Dickens describes his less-planned walks as objectless. Wandering and filling one’s senses with the world around is a wonderful thing. Sometimes the journey is the objective.
In any case, in writing about our walks, we are in good company. It is interesting how the author distinguishes his walks. How would you describe your walks?
The following are a few more questions to get you started on a walking journal for pleasure:
JOURNAL PROMPTS FOR A PLEASURABLE WALKING JOURNAL
Do you like the area where you walk? Is it flat? Mountainous? Sandy? Residential? Public park? A trail in the back acreage?
Is your enjoyment derived not from the location but from the movement of your body? Or some other reason? Why?
How do you feel about the walk? Why?
What little details give you pleasure?
Do you walk alone or with a companion? The baby? The dog? Why? How does it make you feel?
Do you like to walk and listen to music? How about podcasts? Is the sound a distraction or an enhancement? Does the sound keep you from feeling bored? Why do you walk with extra sound in your ears?
When you walk do you think of other things, such as what you will have for dinner? Describe what you think about during these moments.
While you walk, do you produce ideas planning the next day? A few years from now? If so, what are those plans?
Is there a certain pair of shoes you enjoy using? Describe them. Do you walk barefoot?
If you art journal, could you illustrate something from your walks? How about printing an image of the area from an online map?
Do you take a camera with you on your walk? Do you take photos? Include them in your journal and use them as memory prompts.
Is there a preferred path? Where is it? Why do you prefer it?
Do you not think of anything in particular on the walk and just enjoy whatever stimuli you encounter (wind, rain, snow, the sight of squirrels)?
Is your walk scheduled and clear about its destination? Do you wander more?
Do you take food or beverage on your walk? Why? What is it?
Is it a leisurely walk or more brisk? If it might take longer, do you sometimes opt for a picnic along the way?
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Walking can be fun. Perhaps we can capture the pleasure of walks in a journal.
Peace,
Deborah