#Walk30Days Challenge – Year THREE!

That time is upon us again! It is the #Walk30Days Challenge YEAR THREE.

May is National Walking Month and for the past couple years, I’ve challenged you (and myself) to take a walk every day in May…for 30 days. I’m particularly excited about walking this year because…I live somewhere new! Not that I didn’t enjoy the gorgeous mountains of Idaho or the late spring that allowed me so many flower photos. But I’m excited to discover the Midwest May and see where my feet (and my iPhone 😛 ) take me!

Okay, so let’s get into the WHY and WHAT so all the #Walk30Days newbies can join the fun.

WHAT is the #Walk30Days Challenge?

Well, the longer answer is to just go read my original post on how daily walks help your creativity. 😉 But the quick answer is this:

I was inspired to get myself outside at least once a day. For the sake of creativity and for the sake of not giving into a sedentary lifestyle. So that prompted the challenge to:

• Take a walk (whether 5 minutes or 50) every. single. day. in the month of May.
• To take a snapshot (with a camera or your phone…or even sketching it!) of something–a place, a feeling, a discovery–that you encounter on your walk.
• To share. The joy. The adventure. The rediscovery of the world.

I’m going to try to step outside every day this month  and post one picture on my social media using the hashtag #Walk30Days. And you are invited to join me. 😀

Photo from last year’s #Walk30Days

Even if you can’t commit to every single day, try to join in for a small amount of time! One week. One day a week. ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING.

WHY walking?

Um, let me count the reasons:

• Because walking is better for your health (yes, even you young spry teenage whippersnappers!)
• Because walking stimulates creativity. (Hear that, authors?)
• Because C. S. Lewis did it so . . . duh.
• Because of this quote:

Most writing is done away from the typewriter, away from the desk. I’d say it occurs in the quiet, silent moments, while you’re walking or shaving or playing a game… – Henry Miller

• Because you can be like Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli!
• Because this is God’s creation, and how do you expect to replicate it in your own life if you don’t know it intimately?
• Because it allows for quiet time in a loud busy world.

Photo from last year’s #Walk30Days

Tips to get the most out of your short walk:

• PREPARE YOUR MIND…and your schedule. May starts on Monday–that means you have four whole days to prepare, to shift around your schedule, to tell hubby (or wifey) that you’ll be doing this (and that they should too. 😉 )
• Leave your phone at home or in your back pocket on silent. Use only for your walk photo! 🙂
• Bring a small journal or notebook with you and take notes on the ideas that you stumble across.
• Don’t soundtrack your walk. No tunes! Rediscover the sounds of life. (This is optional. I know that if you live in the city, sirens and yelling and noise are much nicer when they’re drowned out by great music or an audiobook.)
• Try to get in a few walks alone.  There’s a reason we do intentional things like writing, journaling, praying, alone. The brain can breathe a bit easier and think a little clearer. (Just not at night or in dangerous places or without parental permission if you’re not an adult yet. Please stay safe, cautious, and wise.)
• Try to walk a little further each day. I take a little pedometer with me. The first day, I tried to break 1,000 steps, which may sound like a lot to some and a little to others. The next day I shot for 1,300. You could measure yours by minutes, or distance, or steps.
• Pray while you do it! This isn’t a must, but it’s a great opportunity to spend more quality time with the Lord.

Not sure if you can commit to a full 30 days? That’s okay! Try it as long as you can. Or jump in here and there at your own pace.

Connect & Share

After your walk and you’ve taken your photo of discovery…share it with other walkers on social media by using the #Walk30Days hashtag! Facebook, Twitter, Instagram…whatever! Inspire others and share your own inspiration. 🙂

Also…

#WALK30DAYS now has its own Instagram!

Since this seems to be a growing thing, I set up an Instagram account specifically for this challenge. It’ll stay up forever and it will feature people’s (maybe yours!) walking photos. So pop by and follow or turn on notifications if you have an Instagram and want to be connected that way!

There’s hidden beauty everywhere — beyond your home, no matter how long you’ve lived there. And it’s our duty to find it. (Tweet this)

See you outside starting Monday, May 1st!!

ARE YOU IN?

Even if you don’t join, what do you do to keep active and creative?

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