It’s a lifelong habit that I am trying to break. Wish me luck. There is plenty of motivation for me to do so.

I am learning to enjoy walking more. My tendency is to look at such activity as workout or exercise instead of just enjoyable time spent in movement. I’ve always enjoyed running, but the past few attempts to start anew have been met by discouraging responses by this many decades old body. This year, I will be trying hard to simply enjoying walking, sauntering as Thoreau called it. I have a pleasant history with that activity, too, so wish me luck.

For as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed walking to wherever I was going, particularly if that involved going to locations in nature. As a kid, my dad and I would walk a relative’s farm to fish in the various stock ponds; as an adult, I walked with my sons as we hiked outdoors or explored fishing locations; as an employee, I would walk around the campus to relieve the stresses of the academic environment; and as a boss, I encouraged my team members to walk nearby environs to de-stress and re-engage their creativity.

The other day, my youngest son and I spent some time at my “place away from places” for some fishing reminiscent of the old days…walking the banks, casting spinners in search of bass. The movement wasn’t fast and that was part of the beauty of it all. The cool air, the sound of birds, the rustling of trees in the wind, the laughter and conversation between us as we made our way from one spot to another. All this was made possible by walking.

Walking is good for the heart and soul. I look forward to enjoying bipedal conveyance and exploration in 2026, not to “work out” or to “exercise,” but to be outside while all my senses bring the world to me. I’ve loved it before and look forward to loving it again.

This blog section is titled Philo, which is Greek for loving, as in love of: for example, philanthropy: love of people/humanity; philosophy: love of knowledge or wisdom. My writings for Philo examine “love of” many things — both subtle and sublime — that comprise life and living.