"The connection between walking and thinking is ancient, dating back at least to the time of Aristotle's peripatetic school, named from the Greek verb peripatein—to walk or stroll about—after its founder's habit of pacing whilst teaching. Socrates strolled with his students, Jean-Jacques Rousseau liked to hike just a bit further north from here near Chambéry, and Nietzsche walked for up to eight hours a day in line with his conviction that "all truly great thoughts are conceived by walking." - Julie Webster Ayuso
Since my lower 30s (it's strange being a teenager in her 40s), walking, along with distance running, has been one of my absolute favorite activities. Whether taking my dog for a long walk early in the mornings when the world is still quiet, going on hikes together or solo, or even just strolling along, walking has been a form of prayer for me; it's a little piece of peace. It's when I can untangle my thoughts and figure things out. It's when I get to be the first person to say hello to others. It is when I can appreciate the nature around me (and those gorgeous NJ power lines). I have a handful and a half of regrets in life. Going for a walk? Nope, never been one of them.
Many topics crossed my mind yesterday morning, but two of the most profound things I thought about were the first time I realized I procrastinated in life (listen, I don't have control over what I think about) and what completely surprised me...
I randomly thought about how much I liked myself.
The realization that I had about liking myself was both comforting and a moment of complete happiness. It was a moment of self-acceptance and understanding. And then it was slightly painful, as it led to other thoughts. But remember, thoughts, like feelings, aren't right or wrong; they're just thoughts. Let them come. Let them go.
The more that you like yourself and love yourself (this is different from Narcissistic tendencies or NPD, which I will not even go near with a ten-foot pole and my keyboard right now), the more others may not like you.
Stay with me here.
I pondered the characteristics of people who like themselves and why this can repel certain people.
People who like themselves have an aura or air about themselves. These people have boundaries with others, situations, and, most importantly, themselves. Boundaries can seem threatening to certain people if they don't understand that boundaries are not about them. When someone likes themselves, it may also be someone being full of themselves. That's not the case at all. Liking yourself and self-centeredness are two completely different things. Many people who don't like themselves are extraordinarily self-centered and vice versa.
People who like themselves tend not to put up with situations that don't serve them or align with their values. They respect themselves most of the time (I say most because we can all have lapses and judgment, okay?).
People who like themselves are willing to be very honest with themselves. By the way, sometimes, this can suck pretty bad. Storytime: There was a time when I thought I did not want children. Reality check: I lived according to someone else's wants, not mine. I wish I could say I only allowed this once, but I was sure to let it happen a few times until I hit my absolute lower-to-mid-30s-mental breakdown.
What a time, 12/10, chef's kiss.
This situation landed me in a brutal position where I had to look in the mirror and get real honest. I did want an expanded family. However, I was sacrificing myself and what I wanted to hold onto something unaligned. I see so many people doing this in hopes the situation will change or force something Cue the years of therapy.
People that like themselves are OK with being alone, and many times, they are not lonely, people that like themselves enjoy their own company.
People who like themselves don't take many things personally. Sometimes, things are personal, but they understand that on a macro level, not everything has to do with them. Understanding this is a sense of power.
People who like themselves probably nodded along while they read this.
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