Walking is a great way to exercise and the simplest way to stay healthy, but in the late twentieth century, the passion for walking began to seem less important; urban gyms and playing squash on a sweaty court became de rigeur. I remember my days of playing squash after work, which, if I am honest, I never enjoyed.
But today, especially since the pandemic (remember that?), we have once again turned to walking and especially to waking in nature. I have realised that the world is magnificent and waiting to be explored. I learnt this when I undertook a year-long project to walk the same walk every week for a year to regain my health (I was suffering from burnout) in the hills and mountains of Southern Austria, and I am convinced that in overlooking this pleasure in life, I was missing out. Making walking a part of my routine has had a great impact on me and changed the direction of my life for the better.
I was excited about what I had found out and how much it helped me, so I wrote a book "Walking into Alchemy: The Transformative Power of Nature."
The impact of walking on my life
I thought I would only walk regularly for that one year, but walking is very curative, and now I am addicted. I can't manage without my daily dose. I did not realise that walking is an almost magical physician which seems to be able to treat many physical and mental complaints. Looking back now, I see that my year of walking helped me to know that it's a free and easy way to improve health. One just needs to make the time. It's more difficult when I feel exhausted or fed up, but then I make myself get up and wander in the nearby misty landscape, or I take a stroll around the town. Both can be magical experiences – really, give it a try!
11 reasons to get those boots on!
Physical Health
Improved Fitness: Regular walking helps maintain a healthy weight, strengthen muscles, and improve cardiovascular health.
Reduced Stress: Walking can lower stress levels and improve mental health by releasing endorphins.
Better Sleep: Engaging in physical activity like walking can improve sleep quality.
Mental and Emotional Well-being
Enhanced Creativity: Walking, especially in nature, can boost creativity and help you develop new ideas (perfect for writers – as they say, "take your story for a walk").
Clearer Mind: It can provide a break from daily stresses, allowing you to think more clearly and make better decisions.
Mood Boost: The act of walking releases serotonin and endorphins, which can elevate your mood and combat depression.
Social Benefits
Stronger Relationships: Walking with friends or family can provide quality bonding time and strengthen relationships.
Networking Opportunities: Joining walking groups can help you meet new people and expand your social circle.
Personal Growth
Mindfulness and Reflection: Walking alone gives you time to reflect on your life, set goals, and practice mindfulness.
Sense of Accomplishment: Setting and achieving walking goals can boost your self-esteem and sense of accomplishment.
Connection to Nature
Environmental Awareness: Spending time walking outdoors can increase your appreciation for nature and encourage more environmentally friendly habits.
Each of my 52 walks has a different theme.
As I walked, so many ideas came to me that I wanted to make every chapter different. I was worried about this at first, but I have had some good feedback. From Bernadette writing from the US:
"...it's quite impressive how a book with such a simple concept — one woman walking the same path 52 times — could bring you joy, but in a world such as ours, when we're always busy and running from one thing to the next, it has — and it does."
And from Chris writing from Cheltenham in the UK - "Walking into Alchemy is a success on many levels, astonishingly so when one considers it basically describes the same walk 52 times over. How could that be anything but repetitive and dull? Well, Amelia has certainly cracked it with sensitive descriptions, attention to details which most people would never have noticed, and an easy style that keeps one reading."
Here is the list of contents page for Walking into Alchemy, which gives some idea of the themes that I cover. Maybe one of them interests you?
Rekindle
Austria
Limbo
Assimilation
Archive
Anxiety – 22nd December
Realisation – 29th December
Understanding
Snow – 5th January
Wire – 13th January
Ice – 20th January
DNA
Heart – 28th January
Dad – 4th February
Weir – 9th February
Opaque – 18th February
Pearl – 24th February
Yellow – 1st March
Bruegel – 9th March
Button – 19th March
Crocus – 24th March
Anemone – 3rd April
Asteraceae – 11th April
Unseasonal – 29th April
Dandelion – 10th May
Ranunculus – 18th May
Lupins – 25th May
Path – 30th May
Fra Angelico – 7th June
Thistle – 23rd June
Beetle – 3rd July
Hermaphroditism – 15th July
Poppy – 20th July
Suspension – 24th July
Anniversary – 31st July
Shorn – 5th August
Sunflowers – 14th August
Spindle – 20th August
Dew – 27th August
Birth – 2nd September
Heat – 24th September
Erntedankfest – 1st October
Between – 9th October
Autumn – 16th October
Apples – 23rd October
Verdigris – 30th October
Bell – 5th November
Ammil - 9th November
Mist – 20th November
Dog – 27th November
Dilapidation – 4th December
Frost – 6th December
Lace – 8th December
Extraction – 14th December
Stone – 18th December
Burne-Jones – 22nd December
Texture – 26th December
Crucifixion – 29th December
Free – 1st January
Alchemy
Kintsugi
Do you know someone who needs some motivation?
Send Walking into Alchemy as a gift.
For 15.00 Euros, you can get a full-colour (53 photographs) copy of Walking into Alchemy. I can also wrap and send the book to anyone in the UK or the EU. Just pop over to my shop, put the book in your basket, and choose the Wrap and Send option. Add the contact details, and I will do the rest!
Or, maybe you want a copy for yourself. In that case, postage and packing to any address in the UK or EU is free, so why not treat yourself?
Sie können das Buch in deutscher Spracher bekommen - Alchemie des Gehens - und die gute Nachricht ist, dass es für 12,50 Euro angeboten wird. Für einen Aufpreis von 3,50 Euro kann ich es auch für Sie signieren, einpacken und verschicken - nur innerhalb der EU.
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