WALKING ALONE

With warmer days upon us, I am enjoying more outdoor walks. While I know that some people enjoy walking alone, I know that others can feel lonely stepping out by themselves without a specific errand or destination in mind. If that sounds familiar, here are some ideas to tap into the joys of walking. 1. Try to recruit a walking buddy—perhaps you could ask a LiLY volunteer to join you. Alternatively, you could join a LiLY walking group. Call me for details. 2. One neighbor told me she loves to walk along the river and inhale fresh air; another said that she prefers to walk near the playgrounds where she enjoys dogs and sometimes speaking with their owners and watching the children play. Or, walk to a favorite coffeehouse and treat yourself to a warm beverage. 3. Listen to an audiobook or podcast. This is what I do, and it makes me want to walk further so I can hear the end of a really good chapter. I download my books for free from the library. Podcasts are also free and fun to listen to as they cover every topic imaginable. If you are unfamiliar with podcasts, they are simply radio shows that can be listened to on demand. There are a variety of “smart phones” on the market, led by Apple’s expensive iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxies. But there are other less expensive ones with podcast capacity. Once you find out which icon leads you to Podcasts, you can choose from a number of offerings, from a Charles Dickens novel to episodes on a large array of topics…from the History of Math, to stories from The Moth radio program, to Letters From Sing Sing. If you need help accessing podcasts, call me at (646) 734-0182.