A Walk for Peace of Mind, Health, and Wellness

There’s nothing like a beautiful morning to lift the spirits, and that’s just what we have here today.  Clear skies, warm sunshine, and a nice, cool breeze.

To take advantage of the weather, as it’s been ridiculously cold here lately, I decided that my 3-year-old and I would walk to school to pick up my 5-year-old from Kindergarten.

The breeze, the sunshine, and the exercise were all essential in boosting my mood and energy for the day.  I feel serene instead of stressed, anxious, and depressed.

Fresh air is essential for good health and mood.  Indoor air does not compare to outdoor air, and the quick run from your car to the door of your local Wal-mart doesn’t quite cut it.  Extended fresh air exposure is key, as is the sun exposure.  While many will tell you that going out in the sun is bad for your skin and health, this isn’t the case.  Sun exposure gives you essential Vitamin D which assists the body with calcium absorption and boosts the mood.

And we all know that exercise is critical for good health and mood.

In addition, we had some calming, sweet moments as a family.  There are so many more discussions that take place during a family walk as opposed to a drive.  I got to hear so much more about my son’s morning at school, and we saw and talked about what we saw during our walk.

We saw…

Mr. Lizard chillin on the wall

We stared at him for awhile, waiting for him to move but he didn’t budge.  Although, my oldest son said he ran off as soon as we walked away.

Then we walked down a path lined with trees. Living in the desert, this isn’t a common occurrence. Also, because we live in the desert, I listened to my boys as they told me we were in the forest. I had a good laugh at that.  I think it may be time to take a trip outside of our town to an area that’s lush and green, so they can remember what a real forest looks like.

As we walked through our neighborhood, we saw a beautiful sight that you don’t see much living in the desert.

Fall Foliage

And then I watched as my oldest son, without any prompting, ran over and began throwing the leaves in the air, and I marveled at how some kids just instinctively know how to have the most fun in the simplest situations.  All kids jump in the leaves and throw them in the air. What makes them do that?  I love it!

What a mood booster for this mommy who has been suffering from the holiday blues / Seasonal Affective Disorder / depression and anxiety.  Whatever the cause of my lack of good cheer and energy, this moment with my children calmed my spirit and lifted my mood out of the darkness.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

My #FEELGOOD10:

1.  Fall foliage

2.  The Chicken Dance

3.  Sunbutter (sunflower seed peanut butter substitute)

4.  Sunshine

5.  Cool breezes

6.  My boys’ smiles

7.  Childrens’ Books

8.  Convenience stores

9.  Poweraid

10.  Chocolate Chip Cookies

Related articles

• Go on a fall foliage cruise for less courtesy of Time Out Kids (timeoutny.com)
• How to beat the winter blues (independent.co.uk)
• Weekend sunshine ‘can protect against skin cancer’ (telegraph.co.uk)