(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.)
I really like walking. In my life, I have walked a lot.
On average, I have walked 10,000 steps a day for about 15 years.
Ten thousand steps is about seven kilometers. I did this for 15 years, so I have walked about 38,000 kilometers in total. I also walked every day outside of those 15 years, so I have probably walked about 40,000 kilometers in my life.
The circumference of the Earth is about 40,000 kilometers, so this means I have walked the distance around the Earth once.
I don’t know why, but I like walking. I don’t like driving a car, so I have walked a lot.
When I was in my twenties, I often went out at midnight and walked 15 kilometers for about two hours. In the morning, I reached my destination and went back home by train.
There used to be a big bookstore in my town. The distance between the bookstore and my home was 15 kilometers. I often went there on foot.
About 10 years ago, I wore 1-kilogram ankle weights. I wanted to train my body hard.
Now, on weekdays, I walk about 13,000 steps. I go to work on foot, and it takes about 40 minutes.
Even on snowy days and stormy days, I walk to work. I believe that walking makes me stronger.
My colleagues know that I walk a lot, so they praise me. This is normal for me, but they are surprised to know that I walk to work for 40 minutes every day.
When I walk outside, I think about many things, such as my life, my past mistakes, and other people’s feelings.
I am often grateful for the kindness I have received while walking. It makes me feel good.
I feel good when I walk outside. When I sit, I often criticize myself or remember negative things. However, when I walk outside, I don’t think about negative things very much.
Ancient philosophers often walked while discussing ideas. Some studies show that walking improves creativity. Many people say that walking is the best exercise.
Q: Has walking changed me?
Yes. My mental condition has become better and more stable because of walking. Walking relieves my stress and makes me more positive.
Q: What’s the longest distance I’ve ever walked?
I have walked to my limit twice in my life.
The first time, I walked 40 kilometers. After walking 40 kilometers, I felt great pain in the soles of my feet. It was difficult to walk, so I stopped and went home by train.
The second time, I walked 45 kilometers. This time, I tried to walk as far as possible. I packed towels and underwear to sleep outside. However, after reaching 45 kilometers, I gave up and returned home.
I respect Yusai Sakai (1926–2013), a Buddhist monk. I read almost all of his books and went to his temple to see him, but I was not able to meet him.
Sakai accomplished one of the most difficult practices called Sennichi Kaihō Gyō twice. In the 1,000-year history of this practice, only three monks have accomplished it twice.
In Sennichi Kaihō Gyō, monks walk 30 to 40 kilometers in the mountains for 1,000 days over seven years. In total, they walk about 40,000 kilometers, which is the same as the circumference of the Earth.
I wanted to become superhuman like Sakai, so I tried to walk a lot.
Q: What were my difficult experiences with walking?
- There is a bridge near my home. When I walked on it on stormy days, it was dangerous because my glasses were almost blown away.
- I got sick and felt pain when I walked. Sometimes I had to stop walking because of the pain. I thought it would be difficult to commute on foot anymore. However, my illness was cured, and now I can walk without pain.
Q: What were some good memories of walking outside?
- In the mornings, I saw a group of elementary school students walking in a line. They looked very innocent and cute, and I always smiled when I saw them.
- There is a small park near my workplace with some cherry trees. When I saw the cherry blossoms there for the first time in spring, I was very happy and moved.
- Several years ago, about 60 centimeters of snow fell in one day. Some of my colleagues couldn’t commute by car because of the heavy snow. There was a lot of snow on the sidewalks, so I walked on the road. There were few cars, and it felt like a ghost town. I felt like I was in a movie, and it was fun.
Walking is easy, but it is very good for your health. Walking outside can change your mood for the better instantly.
Let’s enjoy walking!