Hello there and welcome to my 121st blog.
Imagine, just for a moment, waking up to a glorious day. The sun is shining, the sky is blue, and you can’t wait for the day to begin. First, though you need that delicious cup of coffee. Now, just imagine, again, that you cannot turn over and get up, or stand up to walk to the kitchen. Your legs do not work. You need to wait for someone to help you, or you need to call someone by pressing the button that is on a chain round your neck.
For most of us this is inconceivable and unthinkable. We just take our legs and feet completely and utterly for granted. When we need to do things or to go places, we just use them not realizing there are many who are denied this.
Walking is not just movement. It’s independence, dignity, and connection with the world.
It’s how we meet friends, explore places, and live our best lives.
Walking recently
As some of you may already know, I have just come back from an awesome trip visiting my bigger boys in London. I popped over to Bruges while I was over there, and thought it was absolutely amazing. Whilst on holiday, I started thinking how frikking blessed I am to have my legs. This may seem quite strange, but honestly, I really was beyond grateful for the fact that I could walk up to 32 000 steps every day. I could walk to most places, and blessed with the gift of time, I could do this at leisure. So, I used my feet and legs and walked, and walked, and just loved doing this. City strolls, countryside rambles, and some unexpected detours in both London and Bruges.
Walking is medicine.
This made me think and reflect.
Over the past five years or more, I have seen firsthand how my patients suffer when they are not able to walk. They do not just suffer physically, but their mind, and spirit are affected too. I can see, for often they do not tell me, that the hardest thing is not the physical pain, but the dependence on others. This is accompanied by loss of self-confidence and self-esteem, depression, sadness, anger, and frustration.
Reasons for lack of mobility
It’s also not just the elderly who struggle with mobility. Think about a spinal cord injury which causes partial or complete paralysis. People born with cerebral palsy or those who are unlucky to be afflicted by Parkinson’s or Multiple Sclerosis. Then it’s folk with severe arthritis or osteoporosis or muscular dystrophy. Many people with heart and lung issues are unable to walk due to shortness of breath or fatigue. Severe balance disorders can affect mobility hugely and obesity too. Trauma or injury causing fractures of lower limbs, amputations, ligament or tendon tears and crush injuries can have a huge impact on mobility. Some cause temporary immobility but others may be permanent.
Often there is insufficient counselling or therapy for the many people who are not able to use their legs and feet. I believe it is really important that people are taught how to try to equip themselves to manage this.
Walking benefits us in so many ways, which I have written about ad infinitum. I do think they are worth a repeat.
- Walking is one of the simplest, cheapest, and most accessible forms of exercise. This was particularly helpful for me whilst I was in London.
- Moving boosts joint and muscle health and may improve bone density. Always want to be doing this.
- It supports weight management and enhances balance and coordination. Well, I am hoping that this will be the case for me in the next decade or so.
- Walking boosts your mood with endorphin release, sharpens your thinking, and may help encourage creativity. I definitely felt the release of endorphins whilst strolling through London.
- It may help prevent some chronic illnesses, improve immunity, and help you to live longer. I am hoping that my investment in this will bode well on this front.
- Walking can be a social activity; gets you your vitamin D dose if you walk outside and connects you with nature. I loved walking with friends in the fab parks of London.
- Moving strengthens our hearts and lungs, improves our circulation, lowers our blood pressure, and supports our heart health. This can only be a good thing.
Walking has shaped different chapters of my life story.
My legs and feet have seen me through so much. They have walked me through joy, sorrow, adventure, fun, challenges laughter, and every day throughout my life.
They have danced (albeit without much rhythm), stumbled (for more than one reason – we won’t go there), climbed hills (not too many mountains), they have been injured (too many times for me to count), they have borne extra weight through pregnancies and other times ( they always seemed to be okay), and stood still (not so much).
They are my connection to the ground, my freedom, and my transport. They are my foundation.
Again, so many are denied all of this.
So, I ask you all to pause for a moment, and just appreciate the simple pleasure of putting one step in front of the other.
Walking is a way of living, and it’s worth protecting. I feel truly blessed and honoured to have my legs and feet, and i invite those of you who are as lucky as me, to celebrate and honour your legs and feet.
Let’s make a conscious effort to walk more. Our bodies respond to care, to movement, and to gentle but consistent effort,
Strength can be rebuilt, balance can return.
It is never too late to start.
Wishing you all a wonderful week of walking.