Walking is one of the simplest ways I rejuvenate and renew my energy, clear my mind, and appreciate the positive side of life. To do that, certain fundamentals drive my daily walks.

I always ensure that I am present in the moment, first by observing my surroundings – the sky, trees, houses, landscape, and anything else I happen to pass by – and relishing in the inherent beauty of the world and the moment.

Because I concentrate on the here-and-now aspect of walking, I don’t even plan my route in advance and I rarely walk the same path twice. Instead, I spontaneously make decisions as I happen upon each corner. This allows the walk to be unstructured, unplanned, and completely happenstance. I relish every minute of it, especially since so many of our lives are over-planned and over-scheduled.

Second, and most importantly, my walks are my stress-free zone. I don’t allow work, to-do lists, appointments, or chores to occupy my thoughts. If any such stressful triggers pop into my mind, I silence them by thinking “ssshhhhh.” This is a calm and relaxing way to remind myself that this is not the time to be dwelling on these negative issues. Other times, I count to four while taking a deep breath in, holding it in for another four seconds, and gently easing the breath out to another count of four.

After clearing my mind of stressors, I think about everything in my life for which I am grateful. This can be as simple as being thankful it is a sunny day or as complex as being thankful for my fulfilling relationship with my husband and family.

Walking is my “happy place,” and despite the cringe-inducing cheesiness of that phrase, it has concrete benefits – I am a more optimistic, cheerful person because I carve out time in my day to focus solely on a few of the positive aspects of my life.