“I think that I cannot preserve my health and spirits unless I spend four hours a day at least – and it is commonly more than that – sauntering through the woods and over the hills and fields, absolutely free from all worldly engagements.” ~ Henry David Thoreau The world around us is moving at such a hectic pace, that we often forget to slow down and smell the proverbial roses. Even our walk is at high speed, pushing every inch of speed we can out of what is otherwise the most leisurely of modes of locomotion. It isn’t just an opportunity for us to remember to walk it is, more importantly, an opportunity for us to take a truly relaxed tack to the day, and choose to saunter. Saunter: v, a walk in a slow, relaxed manner, without hurry or effort. This holiday was formed by W.T. Rabe in 1979 as a response to the sworn enemy of the Saunter, jogging. Sauntering doesn’t just mean walking, it means walking as though the weight of the world has been lifted from your shoulders. It means being free from stress and strain, and instead focusing on the pure joy of walking. In fact, Sauntering specifically implies that you will be moving in a joyful manner. I shall saunter down the road for a paper later - I may even skip
I do like a saunter that is my natural walking pace. I slow down to an almost stop if I’m in the countryside!