“Above all, do not lose  
your desire to walk.”   
Soren Kierkegaard 

What was I thinking? (How strange that I’ve been asking myself this question for decades.) I ventured out on a walk yesterday afternoon. I left home around 4:00 and returned about 5:30. I had no particular destination in mind. I just walked aimlessly through the neighborhood enjoying the late afternoon sun and savoring the fresh January air. It was a most refreshing respite from a day of writing and the responsibilities of helping to care for our active two-year-old grandson. As I was about thirty minutes into the walk, it dawned on me that I hadn’t given much thought to what I’d been thinking about.

This surprised me a bit, because I recall the words of Mahatma Gandhi who said, “A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.” Considering this warning, perhaps I should pay more attention to my thoughts, but yesterday’s walk was not for thinking. It was an experience of emptying my mind and allowing myself to be in the present moment and in the presence of God. Not surprisingly, it didn’t take long for my thoughts to kick-in and interrupt the serenity of that moment.

I began thinking about places I’d been, opportunities I’d been offered, and experiences I’d enjoyed. I started thinking about people I have encountered in my lifetime — from my early childhood years to the present day — and how I have impacted their lives and how they have impacted mine. I thought about decisions I’d made in my lifetime, not doubting those decisions, but wondering how my life would be different had I chosen a different option.  

With all these thoughts swirling about my head, I thought about the memorable words of the French philosopher and novelist Albert Camus. He wrote, “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.” Bingo! That’s how I was feeling. Here we are in mid-January, and even with myriad thoughts spinning around in my consciousness, I was filled with the peace and serenity of a summer afternoon.

Afternoon walks, as it turns out, are a great time for thinking. By no means are they a waste of time. In fact, German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche claimed, “All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.” I am grateful for the time I had yesterday to both clear my head, and then reflect on what’s truly important in my life at this time. 

Thomas Jefferson claimed that “walking is the best possible exercise.” I wholeheartedly agree. I am also inspired by the words of Confucius. He said, “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” The pace at which I walked yesterday was relatively slow, almost as if I were wandering deep in thought around the grounds of the Jesuit Retreat Center in Los Altos, but I have no plans to stop walking any time soon.