Walking Can Help Heal Grief
Can walking help heal our grief? How would it feel to have your brain shut off from your grief for just a few minutes?
Would you like to feel a soft breeze dance across your cheek as you take a step?
How about listening to the soft rustling of leaves or the birds chirping as you turn a corner?
Do you want to feel the sun warming your back as you look up at the beautiful blue sky?
Would you like your footsteps to help you enjoy nature?
Well you can. Walking, by yourself, in a natural surrounding can be incredibly healing. I call this My Healing Walk. It has been helping me in my grief and I think it could help you too. I am truly learning to heal my grief by walking.
Four months after my daughter passed, I was very fortunate to be in Florida when I began to walk again. I say fortunate because I live in the Northeast and it was February so I was happy for the beautiful sunshine, warm weather and natural surroundings.
Walking Memories
I am an intense starter. If I’ve been on a lay off from walking (which I’m easily prone to do), I always start hard. I think I’m just so excited I got off the couch that I get a little carried away. Even if my body sometimes tells me to slow it down, the little voice in my head tells me to “walk farther, walk harder, sweat more.”
Plus, that little voice was busy filling my head with memories of Kelsey. I didn’t mind the good ones; life growing up, her laugh and the love we shared.
But the not so good memories were hard. Her death, life battling addiction and some “what if’s” filled my head. I walked through my tears. As painful as these “bad” memories were to recall, I knew it was important for me to feel them. I couldn’t erase these unpleasant memories from my mind nor did I want to. They were a part of the life I had with my daughter. But I knew I had to embrace them and then let them go. And walking helped me do that.
Healing Body and Soul
When I would get back from a walk, I felt good. Although I might have felt physically tired and emotionally drained, each walk lifted a tiny bit of the burden of grief from my shoulders.
When we are grieving, we tend to lose focus on ourselves and being healthy. Walking felt good for my body.
We also neglect ourselves emotionally and spiritually. Walking felt good for my soul. I was able to heal my grief through my walking.
Be Present
After several weeks, I began to slow down. My intensity started to slow down as well as my mind. Occasionally, I began to walk without my earbuds pumping music. I began to feel the breeze, hear the leaves, see the clouds in the sky and enjoy the warmth of the sun. I consciously tried to be more present during my walk.
Walking has been a way for me to be present with my grief. I am not walking past it, around it, through it or leaving it behind. I choose to walk with my grief and by doing that, I am healing.
My hope is that you too can find some peace and healing by getting out in nature and taking a walk.
It truly does heal the soul.
Here Are The 7 Ways To Heal Grief By Walking
- Walk by yourself so you can more easily get in touch with your feelings.
- Get outside! Nature is all around you in your neighborhood or a nearby park. Get close to the grass, trees and open sky.
- Be present. Be aware of your surroundings by noticing and enjoying the beauty around you.
- Embrace the happy thoughts when they come but connect these thoughts to your presence and nature that is surrounding you.
- Sad and painful thoughts may come into your head. It’s okay to deal with the emotion at that moment. Cry if you want to but don’t push the feeling away.
- After a week or two, examine your feelings. Are you feeling a little better, maybe a bit more energized? If not, don’t give up! Keep walking. Everyone is different and grief doesn’t have a timetable.
- Start slow, especially if you haven’t been exercising. Shoot for 3 days a week to walk to feel the physical benefits in your body.
Congratulations on taking your first step! Get out there and keep going.
Karen
