5 Reasons to Go for a Walk Outside
I had a pretty rough start to my day. I woke up really sad + disoriented because of a dream I’d had about my dog who passed away. When I told my partner, he didn’t respond the way I wanted / needed at the time, and that triggered me to shut down.
I dissociated by playing a video game for a few hours, and then realized that I’d missed an important appointment.
I felt myself start spinning out. I was embarrassed, ashamed, sad, defeated, overwhelmed, and anxious. I had the urge to call someone and tell them what was happening.
It’s a weekday, though, and everyone was busy. Plus, I knew I needed to feel + process this, not just intellectualize it and dump it onto anyone who would listen.
So I did some tapping, took a shower, and went on a walk outside. I sunned myself like a lizard by the lake. I breathed.
And by the time I got back home, I felt like a whole new person. My dog is still dead and I still have to deal with the consequences of missing my appointment, but I’m not physiologically overwhelmed by it all — I’m able to cope.
I guess all that is to say, there is profound magic in the simplest of things — like going for a walk outside.