Striding for Inspiration
Diana M. Raab -- January 3, 2007
I've heard people say that many writers enjoy walking. My curiosity about this phenomena was ignited by my recent reading of Joan Anderson's biography, "A Walk on the Beach," a gem of a book and also a wonderful gift item for that middle-aged woman on your list who has everything, but seeks a deeper meaning in her life through growth and exploration.
I picked up the book because I've enjoyed Anderson's work before. Also, the subject was intriguing because the story line reminded me of my own relationship with my favorite 85-year-old aunt who lives in Canada, where we lived twenty years ago, and the birthplace of my three children. Since the early seventies, Aunt Lilly has been my inspiration and confidante.
"A Walk on the Beach" has the same sort of flavor and emotional lift as Mitch Albom's New York Times Bestseller Book, "Tuesdays with Morrie."
Anderson decides to spend a year alone in Cape Cod where she befriends Joan Erikson, the late widow of the psychologist Erik Erikson. Joan Erikson bestows her years of wisdom on Anderson and the book unfolds alongside their extraordinary developing friendship. Anderson quickly learns the power in having a mentor. After living all those years with her therapist husband, it would seem logical that she'd have a good grip on how to cope with life's ups and downs.
My plan was to read "Walking on the Beach" in one sitting, but there was so much wisdom dispersed upon its pages, that I often found myself having to stop and reflect before reading on. Each time I picked up the book I made sure my journal was alongside. Each page had potent insights to spark my own thoughts and serve as kernels for future essays and stories. The last section of the book compiled these nuggets of inspiration into a reusable list.
I love reading books which offer insights to inspire my own writing. I also enjoy books which open my eyes to new activities, one of which is walking. The positive effects of walking include meeting people and clearing our minds. By the time I reached the end of the book, I decided to make walking a part of my daily routine.
Since moving to Santa Barbara nearly two years ago, I've noticed that many people favor walking as a hobby. For me, it's a time to meet new people, but it's also a time to nurture reflection and creativity. Santa Barbara offers a unique blend of calm and an unexplainable creative force. I often wondered if it was it's the unique location where the ocean meets the mountains, which creates this unrelenting creative energy.
Walking also seems to unlock writer's block, and it's a good way to clear the cobwebs from your mind.
In fact, Patricia Fry wrote an article called "Meditation Walking for Writers," which I read with great interest. She suggested a walking meditation technique to help if you're stuck in your writing. She says that there is no altered state of consciousness needed to embark on this type of meditation, and that it's just a matter of quieting your mind and finding the stillness from within. She does admit that you have to want to do it and then you will see results.
The technique is simple. The first step is to establish a schedule, anywhere between forty-five and sixty minutes each day. Dress comfortably and find a quiet place to walk, is critical, however, Santa Barbara thankfully has a glutton of perfect walking locations. Fry suggests that while walking you should focus only your senses -- hear the sound of your shoes hitting the pavement, a sprinkler turning on, or the birds chirping. Then she suggests feeling the air against your skin and how the muscles in your legs tighten with each step. Pay attention to the aromas, whether it's the blooming flowers, budding trees or grass being cut. In other words, put yourself in the moment.
Beth Baruch Joselow in her book, "Writing Without the Muse," also suggests in her chapter "Go Outside," to explore the outdoors and discover something unfamiliar -- something growing in your garden, something living under a rock, something discarded in the alley. She suggests bringing that something back to your desk to examine all its facets. She recommends writing a description of it using all your senses. She takes the exercise one step further and suggests describing the item using someone else's voice, someone you know.
Once you try these mind-clearing techniques, you can start allowing creative ideas to filter in, whether it's deciding on the subject of your next article or solving a plot problem for your novel. Fry says that meditation walks provide an ideal arena for problem-solving. When she feels overwhelmed, she uses meditation walks to change her approach to life, whether it results in slowing down or figuring out what to do next. She suggests replacing negative thoughts with positive ones. If you believe those positive thoughts, then chances are they will soon become a reality.
Meditation walking is a way to relax and increase your awareness while getting some of that fresh air and exercise we all need. With the recent holidays as a backdrop now seems to be a good time to fit in this pastime, and who knows, the side effect might be a fabulous story!