Excuse me if I get too preachy or overenthusiastic today, but we’ll be discussing a topic near and dear to my heart—walking.

Walking is one of my favorite activities. It does so much for me. It can do so much for practically everyone. Like all exercise, it can be helpful in recovering from drug and alcohol abuse. It helps recovering people strengthen their bodies. This is important, since addiction often makes people weak. Exercise strengthens the heart, the lungs, muscles, and so much else. It helps us become more flexible.

Exercise also helps us mentally. Physical activity can trigger the release of chemicals that make us feel good. This is the “natural high” that athletes discuss. This high is similar to the high that drug users experience, but a whole lot safer, obviously.

Walking is a good exercise for people new to exercise or for people with medical conditions. Of course, if you do have medical conditions, you should check with your doctor before starting to walk or before participating in any other form of exercise. This check-up can ensure that you’re healthy enough to walk and won’t suffer any side effects from your exercise.

Another good thing about walking is that it doesn’t really require expensive or elaborate equipment. I’ve found sturdy, comfortable athletic shoes on sale at discount shoe stores. I also use inexpensive walking sticks. As an alternative, I sometimes carry hand weights that are one pound each. The walking sticks and light hand weights seem to involve my upper body more when I walk. They also provide a little balance when I inevitably stumble.

I don’t mind stumbling, though. It comes with the territory. I guess it’s a metaphor for life. We’re all going to stumble from time to time. It just means we have to pick ourselves up and start again.