Outdoors For Wellbeing #4 – Walking With Kindness

Walking is great for your own physical and mental wellbeing, but how could you use kindness to spread the benefits to others on your walks? Here are some examples of things you could try:

 

Acknowledge others you see while out walking. It could be a smile, a cheery hello, or a socially distanced chat. If someone is wearing a particularly fetching scarf or hat, give them a compliment on it!

 

Encourage your neighbours, friends, or family to get outside every day for a stroll. If any of you use fitness trackers perhaps you could introduce some friendly competition and have a steps challenge?

 

Share your favourite local routes on social media, or talk to your neighbours, friends, or family about nature you’ve spotted on your walks. Just now you can look out for the first signs of spring – buds on trees, daffodil shoots. It might encourage them to get outside too.

 

Do something small that will make your local paths more pleasant to visit. You could prune an overhanging branch, remove 2 or 3 pieces of litter, or clean a sign or interpretation panel so they are easier to read. In Callander Wood black bags have been tied to the path markers and are regularly emptied.

 

What other ways could you introduce kindness into your walks? Has anyone shown you kindness while you’ve been out walking? We’d love to hear your stories!

 

Check out the other blogs in our #Outdoorsforwellbeing series ????

With thanks to Paths For All for the inspiration for this blog.