Hello!
Today we are going on a walk.
My favorite walks follow a similar pattern: music on, sneakers laced, route mapped out.
These walks are meant for wandering. For happening upon sights I wouldn’t see from a car or bus. For breathing in the salty ocean air. For passing other people on their lunch breaks or errands, a much-needed reminder that I am not the only person that exists (a feeling I sometimes get when I work alone from my apartment all day).
Today’s walk feels like I’ve stumbled upon an accidental art gallery. I keep passing eye-catching signs and colorful graffiti and stickers slapped on telephone poles.
And then there are the views.
Walking almost always elevates my mood. I guess that’s why it became one of my most dependable coping mechanisms at the height of lockdown in early 2020. Walking makes me feel connected to my body and my surroundings. I’m allowed to choose my own pace, and even when I follow a path I’ve walked before, it feels like I’m leading myself somewhere new.
My walk ends when I loop back down my street and up my driveway. Perhaps it's the endorphins lighting up my body, but I tend to feel like a different person when I return home, restored like one of those videos where old stuffed animals are washed and patched up. Not good as new, but certainly refreshed.
If you’re thinking about going for a walk today, allow this to be your sign! And with that, my recommendations this week are all walk-related. We love a theme.
My Curated Walk Recommendations:
Playlists: This one for a more upbeat walk, this one for a leisurely stroll, and this one if you’re feeling main character energy.
A good shoe: I am a proud member of the HOKA fan club. The soles are cushioned! The color combinations are fun! The toe box isn’t too narrow! High praise!!! I have this pair, and I love them (though they do show dirt easily. Be warned).
Sunscreen: I love that sunscreen is having a moment — I’ve been an SPF girlie forever (mostly because I burn too easily — don’t even get me started on the time I got third degree burn on my college swimming training trip). I use Supergoop — the Unseen Sunscreen is such a lovely texture (not unlike a primer!).
The occasional phone call: My brother has informed me that talking to me while I’m on a walk is not ideal, as I tend to call when I’m by a busy road, but I love chatting while walking! It feels like you’re with the person, even if the sound quality is, uh, a little off.
That’s all for today! Have a wonderful week, and look both ways before you cross the street.
xo Haley
Please keep these walking photo diaries coming!!