The Spiritual and Intellectual Benefits of Walking
It’s more than just a series of steps.
“Above all, do not lose your desire to walk. Every day, I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it. But by sitting still, and the more one sits still, the closer one comes to feeling ill. Thus if one just keeps on walking, everything will be all right.” ― Søren Kierkegaard , Letter to Henrietta Lund, 1847
With the limited scientific knowledge at the time, Kierkegaard did not understand much about mental and physical health or the “wonders” of bullet-proof coffees, but he did know the benefits of this exceptional but simple activity: Walking.
Since then, modern-day science has confirmed the physical and biological benefits of the act. An increase in muscle tone, bone density, and heart health; its good for the joints and mobility, and of course, it makes you able to produce the hyped good-feeling hormones dopamine and serotonin.
This is something that even the Ancient Greeks came to realize:
“Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it.” — Plato