Friends, it’s no secret around here that I love to lace up my boots and go for a walk.
I love to get outside.
I do not like the word exercise.
But I love to see the world on my own two feet.
For most of my life, even though I love to go for a walk, I have been a fair weather walker.
And even in this Northern Country, where the cold winds blow and the air is so often damp, I try to hide from the weather.
I stay indoors.
I drink tea.
When it is raining at 3pm, I curse the fact that I have to get out in the weather for a walk to school to meet my youngest.
But after I walk the mile and a half to meet him, and the mile and a half back home…
I am always glad I got outside.
Always.
There is not a day that I come home saying,
“Well, I really did not need that walk today.”
I am always grateful. For the steps walked. The air breathed. The trees glimpsed through mist. The glistening gray buildings.
And on the weekends and holidays, I find that more and more I am ready for the longer walks. Living in a gray city makes me long for the wider spaces, and there are plenty of them to be had in Scotland. We have tried to make a habit of finding them.
We plan to continue the search in 2014 with more journeys to glens and lochs (valleys and lakes).
And to our weekend walks, I am adding my own longer walks to the year’s plans. Walks that take days, or even weeks. Sometimes alone and sometimes with friends.
And to these, I will add city walks, because we plan to see even more cities in the new year and there is no better way to see a city than on foot.
Walk with Me?
So…walking.
Walks to school and to the market. Walks to church. Walks in the country and walks in the city. Walks on a Saturday and walks over lots of days.
This will be a year of walking.
And I am wondering, dear reader, if you might be reading this and thinking about going for a walk.
Might you walk with me?
To a place you don’t usually walk? Or to a place you walk all the time? A long walk or a short walk?
In this new year, who knows how many walks we will take, really? But for the sake of writing about walking on this blog, I am starting a project called #48walks.
For me 48 is sort of an arbitrary number. It is one walk a week with four weeks off. It is 12 walks a season. It is 48 walks during Lent. It is 4 blog posts about walking per month. It is 48 photo essays. It is whatever you want it to be.
I thought about calling it #40walks because I turned forty this year, but I don’t want it to just be about me. I want it to be about walking outside and seeing something different because we chose to go on foot. About meeting a friend for a breathe of fresh air. About taking 20 minutes to see how the seasons have changed since you last went to your favorite spot in the woods. I want it to be about whatever you want it to be.
For me, walking is going to bleed into the stories I am telling. Because I loved telling Twelve Days of Stories, I am going to set aside Tuesdays on the blog for telling stories. And though they will not always be exactly about walks, they will have an element of walking. They will be about what I am walking towards. (In January, I am Walking Towards The Unexpected.)
Because walking is always literal and figurative.
We are going for a walk in the woods (or to the store) and we are walking towards the future.
So I invite you to come along on #48walks literally or figuratively, or both.
This year I am going for #48walks and I would love for you to come with me.
Want to come along?
(Please say Yes!)
Here are a few ways to join in on #48walks:
- Say hello in the comments on this post and tell me that you want to go for a walk!
- Or join the FB group where you can share photos or mention where you are walking this year and meet other folks who are coming along.
- When you go for a walk, use the tag #48walks on Twitter or Instagram.
- If you have a blog, you can blog about your walks. If you don’t have a blog, why not start one! Or just use a good old fashioned notebook to record what you see this year when you go for a walk.
- Grab a notebook. Number to 48 and brainstorm a list of places you want to walk this year! (Or 12 places you want to walk to in all four seasons, or 48 people you want to walk with…)
- Subscribe to the Chino House to stay in touch or just email me (alisonchino AT gmail) to tell me you want to walk!
There are no rules about how to be involved! Choose one or all of the above. Or just lace up your boots, walk out your front door and see what’s out there!
Cheers to a year of walking, friends!
What a fantastic idea! Since my September surgery and subsequent cold weather and shorter days, a lot of my runs have been more like weekend walks, fewer and farther between. It’s been nice to slow down and walk. I’m going to ponder your post and add some walk goals into my run plan this year. Maybe not 48, as I am training for races, but definitely more than usual. Thanks for the push!
Awesome Suzy!! You know I love walking over running any day, but really they are both ways to get outside and breathe! So yay for you either way!!
Count me in! I’ve already donned my cap and grabbed my walking stick.
YES! Love the imagery. 🙂 Ready to go!
I definitely prefer walking over “exercise”. You have inspired me and my first walk will be in San Francisco this week with Ron.
Awesome! I will be watching for some San Fran photos!! So fun!! 🙂
Hello from Canada (though I’m currently travelling in Laos). I’ll join you.
Perfect!! Walks from BOTH sides of the globe. 🙂
We’re not doing much traveling this year, but one thing I resolved to do was to get out once a week and explore the area around me, even if by myself. That would fit into this perfectly!! I don’t know if I’ll accomplish 48, but I’ll sure give it a try! So fun!
Such a great idea to explore locally once a week! Especially when you live in SUCH a great area!! I can’t wait to see your photos. So happy for you to join in!! 🙂
Working on my list and beyond thrilled that some of my walks will be with you!
OH HAPPY DAY!
I am all in. I walked all the time when we lived in England. It was so normal there. Everyone walked in our small village. Not so much in AR. So I am joining and walking once a week and taking photos. I will start in my own neighborhood and then plan future walks as I go.
I have already started thinking about how I want to make this a forever habit even after I move back to the states! I’m excited for you to lead the way! Thanks so much for joining in! I’ll be watching for your walks! YAY!
This is a great idea to get people outdoors and engaged in nature!
Thanks so much Ashley!! You can slow down and walk with us anytime friend! 🙂
This is perfect! Today was the first days son and I went on a walk to find a geocache. I wanted something that he and I can do to spend a little extra time together since baby #2 will be here at the end of March. Plus, I am just feeling the need to get a little more exercise lately. And after the baby is here, getting out and clearing my head will be a good thing. Count me IN!
I’m so glad the timing is right for you! I SO remember those days of needing a little extra motivation to get outside with the wee ones! LOVE it!
What a great idea! Can’t wait to follow along and blog a few myself.
Yay!! Be sure and send me links or post them on the FB page so I won’t miss them. 🙂 Thanks for joining in. 🙂
Looking forward to the journey, Alison. You are so inspiring!
Thanks so much Julie!! I am loving the reaction. 🙂 I hope it’s fun for everyone!
Hi Alison, this is a wonderful idea! I will join you on #48 walks. Mine will be short to start, and they may always be fairly short due to my spinal arthritis, but this idea will help get me out there even when I’m not feeling the best 🙂 Hope our paths may cross this year!
Thanks so much for joining in Susan!! I hope our paths cross this year as well! Maybe we will take one of our #48walks together!! 🙂
I am IN. This sounds so good for the soul. Thanks for the inspiration Alison!
YAY! I’m super excited!! Cheers to a year of walking!
I am soooooooo in on this! I love walking and it’s time I branched out on some new adventures:)
New adventures are the best! Thanks for joining in Debbie!! It’s going to be a great year!
I love this, Alison! 🙂
Thanks so much!! I think it’s going to be a lot of fun!
Ok so I’m game but I suck at follow through and consistency. I may, who am I kidding, I know there probably wont be 48. If I get 4 or 8 I will consider it an achievement. But here’s to getting out and seeing the word with your feet.
No pressure here! Totally open to however you want to be involved! YAY for joining in and Double YAY to getting outside and weeing something new! 🙂
I hesitated on this one for a little while. I am usually running, instead of walking. I just got a new camera for Christmas though, and this will be a fun way to familiarize myself with it
+ I am lucky enough to live in such a beautiful place..
Count me in! Sounds like fun.
OOOH how fun! A new camera is the perfect excuse to set aside some time for walking. Can’t wait to see your photos!! Thanks so much for joining in!
[…] If you feel kind of sad after reading about depression, I’m so sorry. Maybe consider going for a walk? […]
Hi, I love walking, I walk to work and do a walk down by the beach a couple of times a week – to clear my head! Your post has made me think about other places I could go walking. I never take my camera, so will have to start! Best wishes!
[…] Monday, friends! I am high as a kite today about the response to the new project, #48walks. Lots of wonderful walks were shared over the weekend in the Facebook group and on Instagram! You […]
Ok it’s taken me a month to get on board but I’m ready! Making a list. Love walking with you!
[…] you go for a walk this weekend, don’t forget to share it with me!! #48walks on Twitter, Instagram or (evil) […]
Alison, once again you have inspired me. I have been thinking about this since I first read about it. Last night, my sister asked if I wanted to do it. We are doing a thing called Project Life, scrapbooking everyday events. I still am not very steady walking and still have to use a cane, but I am going to do it….it will be short walks, but I will be outside and breathing fresh air. Thank you again for all the inspiration you give me…..I love reading your stories and will be first in line to buy your book! Love, Debbie
Debbie, that is awesome! I’m so glad you and your sis have decided to do this. I look forward to reading about your short walks on the Facebook page #48walks. And you Project Life scrapbooking project sounds neat. Maybe someday I’ll get to see the scrapbook. 🙂
So proud of you Debbie!! All walks count towards this project so I’m excited to see where even a little bit of walking takes you this year! 🙂
I’m in!
Woohoo!! Welcome to the fun, Erica!! 🙂
[…] Friends, it is always encouraging to see the other walks shared in the Facebook group and on Instagram! If you blog about one of your #48walks, be sure and leave a link on the Facebook page or email it to me at alison (at) alisonchino.com, and one of these days I’ll share a list of walking links! And, anyone can join in anytime and walk with us. […]
[…] Listen To Your Mother: Little Rock is now open for submissions – which got me thinking about how I got involved with this whole thing. I’m also counting this journey as one of my #48walks. […]
Hello I want to walk:)
YAY Tiffany! Welcome! Feel free to join the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/48walks or you can tag any picture of a walk on twitter or Instagram with #48walks and I’ll find it. XOXO
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count me in, this is awesome!
Yay!!!
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Count me in! What a great idea! Just went on walk #1 with my 2 younger kids! I will have catching up to do! 🙂
YAY! Welcome, Marie!! I look forward to seeing where you walk this year! 🙂
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This is such a great idea! I’ve been doing “Going For A Walk” posts on my blog about our rambles around New Zealand and I just went back and counted how many I had. I’ve only got 14 so far, but you’ve inspired me to keep walking and blogging about them!
That makes me smile!! I will definitely check your walks out! If you want to join the walking Facebook group, feel free to post links to your walks there and I try to link them up on my blog as well. 🙂 Happy Walking!!
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Alison, I found you when I googled “Oh Be Joyful” because I’m searching for a wonderful place to camp in August. Then discovered your love of walking and that you live in Scotland…..two things that I love, too. In fact, I’m headed your way in under two weeks to join a folk music tour around the country, beginning and ending in Edinburgh. We’ll be walking ( and birding) around Holyrood Park as soon as we arrive. I plan to traipse after you from here on out…..happy trails!
How Wonderful!! (This is why I love the internet!!) You will LOVE Oh Be Joyful!! It is my happy place for sure! Hope you have a wonderful trip to Scotland!! Do say “hello” even if just on social media while you’re here. 🙂 I’ll be in Edinburgh twice in June so maybe our paths will cross! (feel free to email if you need/want any info…sounds like you’ve got great plans made already though!!! alison at alisonchino dot com) XOXO
[…] (This is a part of the #48 Walks Series.) […]
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[…] This is a part of the 48 Walks Series. […]
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[…] Disclosure: Macs Adventure generously discounted my booking for our walk in exchange for my being willing to tell you all about it here on my blog, which of course, I am more than happy to do since this trip fits in so perfectly with my Year of Walking. I’m trying to blog #48walks this year. Join me? […]
Well, I always like a party even if I arrive late. And I do, dearly, love a good walk. So I will concoct 48 walks before the end of the year — though if the move I foresee comes about, it may be more like pacing on the North Carolina beach. Thank you for the invitation to join!
Welcome! I’m delighted you’re “coming along!” XO
[…] Disclosure: Macs Adventure generously discounted my booking for our walk in exchange for my being willing to tell you all about it here on my blog, which of course, I am more than happy to do since this trip fits in so perfectly with my Year of Walking. I’m trying to blog #48walks this year. Join me? […]
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[…] Disclosure: Macs Adventure generously discounted my booking for our walk in exchange for my being willing to tell you all about it here on my blog, which of course, I am more than happy to do since this trip fits in so perfectly with my Year of Walking. I’m trying to blog #48walks this year. Join me? […]
[…] Disclosure: Macs Adventure generously discounted my booking for our walk in exchange for my being willing to tell you all about it here on my blog, which of course, I am more than happy to do since this trip fits in so perfectly with my Year of Walking. I’m trying to blog #48walks this year. Join me? […]
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