Mad Macedonian

City Bathing...Exploring Downtown on Foot

You have probably heard about the Japanese practice of "Forest Bathing" and the practice of "Nature, or Forest, Therapy", the practices of creating physical and psychological wellness through immersion in forests and other natural environments (Do some googling and your eyes will be opened).

That's all fine and dandy...if you live near a forest..., but, if you are like me...

I am the Mad Houstonian...the nearest "forests" to me, are the nature trails of Memorial Park, and the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, along Buffalo Bayou, a few miles outside of the Downtown core.

That's why I want to introduce you to the practice of "City Bathing".

There are probably a few studies, somewhere, to suggest that the slow act of mindfully walking along a busy Big City street surrounded by tall buildings, and busy street traffic, overcrowded sidewalks full of tourists, native shoppers, the homeless and panhandlers, political and religious ranters, ramblers and tract distributers, and worker bees heading to work, or a lunch break, or running job related errands, while intentionally engaging your five senses, leads to good things (such as improved memory, decreased anxiety, and high levels of positivity and sociability). But the science probably goes something like this:

an hour long immersion in what a busy metropolitan downtown offers (the older the better, as buildings on offer will be from different eras) positively alters the biomarkers of stress and wellbeing. Heart rate and blood pressure decrease, levels of adrenaline and noradrenalin go down and parasympathetic nervous system activity increases. The upshot is improved mood and feelings of wellbeing, improved rest and energy levels, and decreased anxiety and depression. Together this helps immune function and mitigates the root cause of ailments such as heart problems, diabetes, skin conditions and weight gain to name a few.

For the most part, anyway, one has to assume...I mean, depending on the street you are walking down, and the time of day, hee, hee!

EVERWALK NATION: Inspirational Word of the Day - Create

 Good morning Houston and beyond, The Mad Houstonian, here.

As an Everwalk Ambassador I'd like to invite you to get in touch with your creative side and join me on a little "Word-A-Day" journey, as we exit the 1st decade of the 21st Century and enter the 2nd.

Beginning December 1st, the Everwalk Theme Team began posting an inspirational word each day, on the Everwalk Nation Facebook Group Page.

You are invited to share whatever thoughts or stories each word invokes in you, related to walking, with the group, your walking community, and social media.

I will be posting my contribution on this blog and sharing it with the group and I encourage readers to respond in my comments, below.

For anyone who is wondering what Everwalk is....let me introduce you to the movement.

EVERWALK NATION: Discover the EPIC Within You!

This series began, here.

Let me begin by first thanking all those who have been reading along, every day, and even leaving comments on this blog, and in the Everwalk Facebook Group.

On this last day of 2019, the EverWalk Theme Team invites you to "Find Your Word" for the year 2020.

"Choose one of the words we shared this month or a brand new word as YOUR word for 2020.

 

A word that motivates, inspires, encourages you.

 

A word that helps you find your peace, your footing, your way, your hope, your joy. A word as your intention."

 

Don't let the forest of words to choose from give you the blues!

Give it some thought, take your time, and the right word will reveal itself.

 

EVERWALK NATION: Inspirational Word of the Day - Focus

 Good afternoon Houston and beyond, The Mad Houstonian, here.

As an Everwalk Ambassador I'd like to invite you to get in touch with your creative side and join me on a little "Word-A-Day" journey, as we exit the 1st decade of the 21st Century and enter the 2nd.

Beginning December 1st, the Everwalk Theme Team began posting an inspirational word each day, on the Everwalk Nation Facebook Group Page.

You are invited to share whatever thoughts or stories each word invokes in you, related to walking, with the group, your walking community, and social media.

I will be posting my contribution on this blog and sharing it with the group and I encourage readers to respond in my comments, below.

For anyone who is wondering what Everwalk is....let me introduce you to the movement.

EVERWALK NATION: Discover the EPIC Within You!

This series began, here.

The 30th Word is "Focus".

How does walking help you find yours?

How does walking help you see the forest for the trees?

 

EVERWALK NATION: Inspirational Word of the Day - Outlook

 Good morning Houston and beyond, The Mad Houstonian, here.

As an Everwalk Ambassador I'd like to invite you to get in touch with your creative side and join me on a little "Word-A-Day" journey, as we exit the 1st decade of the 21st Century and enter the 2nd.

Beginning December 1st, the Everwalk Theme Team began posting an inspirational word each day, on the Everwalk Nation Facebook Group Page.

You are invited to share whatever thoughts or stories each word invokes in you, related to walking, with the group, your walking community, and social media.

I will be posting my contribution on this blog and sharing it with the group and I encourage readers to respond in my comments, below.

For anyone who is wondering what Everwalk is....let me introduce you to the movement.

EVERWALK NATION: Discover the EPIC Within You!

This series began, here.

 The 29th word is "Outlook".

Outlook: A person's point of view or general attitude to life.

How has walking helped define your outlook?

Your  thoughts on how your day, week, or life are going?

Your thoughts on something seen, or experienced in your community, or that has, or will take place?

Walking has helped shape my outlook - on life, myself, others, nature, the world around me, the community I live in, and more.

One foot after the other, a step at a time, walking helps me clear my mind, maintain positivity and optimism, grateful for all that is good in my life.

Walking has inspired the activist in me, leading to individual essays and collections on issues, and events, that interest and concern me, over the years.

ONWARD!!!

 

Stay tuned for Word #30!

 

EVERWALK NATION: Inspirational Word of the Day - Way

  Good afternoon Houston and beyond, The Mad Houstonian, here.

As an Everwalk Ambassador I'd like to invite you to get in touch with your creative side and join me on a little "Word-A-Day" journey, as we exit the 1st decade of the 21st Century and enter the 2nd.

Beginning December 1st, the Everwalk Theme Team began posting an inspirational word each day, on the Everwalk Nation Facebook Group Page.

You are invited to share whatever thoughts or stories each word invokes in you, related to walking, with the group, your walking community, and social media.

I will be posting my contribution on this blog and sharing it with the group and I encourage readers to respond in my comments, below.

For anyone who is wondering what Everwalk is....let me introduce you to the movement.

EVERWALK NATION: Discover the EPIC Within You!

This series began, here.

The 28th word is "Way".

How do you find your way walking?

How does walking help you find your way?

When you go for a walk is it always the same way?

Do you have a way you walk?

Way? Yes, way!

"No way!",  you say...

or, "Get out of my way!"...

"What way?" "Which way?" "Who's way?" "The low way, or ANY way but the Highway"?

Do you go this way, that way, or any old way you damn well please?

When it comes to walking there is no right, or wrong, way, so do it YOUR way!

ONWARD!!!

 

NEXT UP -- EVERWALK NATION: Inspirational Word of the Day - Outlook

EVERWALK NATION: Inspirational Word of the Day - Progress

 Good morning Houston and beyond, The Mad Houstonian, here.

As an Everwalk Ambassador I'd like to invite you to get in touch with your creative side and join me on a little "Word-A-Day" journey, as we exit the 1st decade of the 21st Century and enter the 2nd.

Beginning December 1st, the Everwalk Theme Team began posting an inspirational word each day, on the Everwalk Nation Facebook Group Page.

You are invited to share whatever thoughts or stories each word invokes in you, related to walking, with the group, your walking community, and social media.

I will be posting my contribution on this blog and sharing it with the group and I encourage readers to respond in my comments, below.

For anyone who is wondering what Everwalk is....let me introduce you to the movement.

EVERWALK NATION: Discover the EPIC Within You!

This series began, here.

The 27th word is "Progress".

In life and in walking -- how do you find your progress while still staying present in the moment?

How do you not let the interesting things that distract you while walking slow your forward progress?

What does "Progress" mean to you in relation to walking?

When it comes to progress while on a walk usually, when I take a long walk, it's on a day off so I often don't have to worry about reaching the end by a certain time and can just mosey along at my own pace, letting myself get distracted to my hearts content.

Progress also means letting myself go further than my last long walk, and getting used to traipsing about such long distances.

I am used to taking 6-7 mile walks, once twice in a day, with a lengthy break in between, and have taken a 9 mile walk as my personal best.

Progress, for me, would be a 10 mile walk, then moving up from there with successive walks.

I believe this is one way people have even trained for participation in the week long Everwalk Epic Walks every year.

ONWARD!!!

 

NEXT UP -- EVERWALK NATION: Inspirational Word of the Day - Way

EVERWALK NATION: Inspirational Word of the Day - Heart

Good morning me hearties, in Houston and beyond, The Mad Houstonian, here.

As an Everwalk Ambassador I'd like to invite you to get in touch with your creative side and join me on a little "Word-A-Day" journey, as we exit the 1st decade of the 21st Century and enter the 2nd.

Beginning December 1st, the Everwalk Theme Team began posting an inspirational word each day, on the Everwalk Nation Facebook Group Page.

You are invited to share whatever thoughts or stories each word invokes in you, related to walking, with the group, your walking community, and social media.

I will be posting my contribution on this blog and sharing it with the group and I encourage readers to respond in my comments, below.

For anyone who is wondering what Everwalk is....let me introduce you to the movement.

EVERWALK NATION: Discover the EPIC Within You!

This series began, here.

 

The 26th word is "Heart".

How does walking help you find your heart?

 

 

Explore the heart of your city, its downtown, and you will discover history and homelessness, places to eat, drink, and make merry, a green space, or 2, and possible entertainment and sports venues.

 

 

On any given street, on any given trail, even next door to a brewery, hanging out with the Beatles, or outside a TV station news studio, you could encounter something that will touch your heart.

Most importantly walking is good for the health of YOUR heart, so get off the couch, and hit the streets!

 

ONWARD!!!

 

NEXT UP -- EVERWALK NATION: Inspirational Word of the Day - Progress

EVERWALK NATION: Inspirational Word of the Day - Joy

 Merry Christmas Houston and beyond, The Mad Houstonian, here.

70 miles is a long way to walk when your wife is pregnant and you have to lead the donkey she is resting on, but Joseph trusted God to get them safely to Bethlehem.

At the end of their journey, after finding a place to stay, Mary gave birth...Jesus Christ was born.

The reason for the season.

Did you know that, today, you, too, can hike the Nativity Trail? 

BBC special from 2009, which is the journal of a reporter walking the route with a donkey!
Part I
Part II
Part III

As an Everwalk Ambassador I'd like to invite you to get in touch with your creative side and join me on a little "Word-A-Day" journey, as we exit the 1st decade of the 21st Century and enter the 2nd.

Beginning December 1st, the Everwalk Theme Team began posting an inspirational word each day, on the Everwalk Nation Facebook Group Page.

You are invited to share whatever thoughts or stories each word invokes in you, related to walking, with the group, your walking community, and social media.

I will be posting my contribution on this blog and sharing it with the group and I encourage readers to respond in my comments, below.

For anyone who is wondering what Everwalk is....let me introduce you to the movement.

EVERWALK NATION: Discover the EPIC Within You!

This series began, here.

The 25th word is "Joy".

What gives you joy about walking?

Where do you find joy while out walking?

How do you find joy while out walking?

EVERWALK NATION: Inspirational Word of the Day - Peace

 Good afternoon Houston and beyond, The Mad Houstonian, here.

As an Everwalk Ambassador I'd like to invite you to get in touch with your creative side and join me on a little "Word-A-Day" journey, as we exit the 1st decade of the 21st Century and enter the 2nd.

Beginning December 1st, the Everwalk Theme Team began posting an inspirational word each day, on the Everwalk Nation Facebook Group Page.

You are invited to share whatever thoughts or stories each word invokes in you, related to walking, with the group, your walking community, and social media.

I will be posting my contribution on this blog and sharing it with the group and I encourage readers to respond in my comments, below.

For anyone who is wondering what Everwalk is....let me introduce you to the movement.

EVERWALK NATION: Discover the EPIC Within You!

This series began, here.

 

The 24th word is "Peace".

Where do you find peace while out walking?

How do you find peace while out walking?

EVERWALK NATION: Inspirational Word of the Day - Kicks

Good morning Houston and beyond, The Mad Houstonian, here.

As an Everwalk Ambassador I'd like to invite you to get in touch with your creative side and join me on a little "Word-A-Day" journey, as we exit the 1st decade of the 21st Century and enter the 2nd.

Beginning December 1st, the Everwalk Theme Team began posting an inspirational word each day, on the Everwalk Nation Facebook Group Page.

You are invited to share whatever thoughts or stories each word invokes in you, related to walking, with the group, your walking community, and social media.

I will be posting my contribution on this blog and sharing it with the group and I encourage readers to respond in my comments, below.

For anyone who is wondering what Everwalk is....let me introduce you to the movement.

EVERWALK NATION: Discover the EPIC Within You!

This series began, here.

The 23rd word is "Kicks".

Do you get your kicks walking alone?

Do you get your kicks walking with friends? Or your pet?

How do you get your kicks while out walking?

Where do you walk to get your kicks?

 For most of my, soon-to-be, 60 years on this planet of ours I got my kicks while walking/cycling on Route 66 & the streets and neighborhoods around it, in LA & San Bernardino Counties, in SoCal, between the beach in Santa Monica and San Bernardino, including even old Cajon Blvd., from Highland Ave. to Cajon Junction.

The things I see, experience, and do while out walking often give a kickstart to my creative process.

Then there are the things I find to kick, while out walking.

 Pine Cones, little acorns and round, or flat, pebbles to just about anything laying in my path that won't break my toes, or foot, if I give it a good swift kick, are fair game to get whacked if I am so inclined, hee, hee!

ONWARD!!!

 

NEXT UP -- EVERWALK NATION: Inspirational Word of the Day - Peace