I Resolve To . . . Take Nature Walks This Spring!

I love to walk outside.  It's such a simple, pleasurable activity that costs nothing, and brings such vast reward and joy.  In addition to providing a good source of exercise, walking offers many other benefits:  Fresh air, sunshine (a source of Vitamin D, which according to MayoClinic.Com helps to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus), an opportunity to appreciate nature, meet new people, and experience new things.  I frequently walk through Old Town Fredericksburg and surrounding neighborhoods in the afternoon.  My routes provide a fabulous blend of calm, natural and urban settings.  My walking habit is a wonderful way to clear my head and elevate my mood, so that I can tackle the rest of the day's projects with enthusiasm and renewed energy. 

I intend to 'Enjoy The Simple Beauty Of A Nature Walk', as part of my I Resolve To . . . Challenge:  365 Resolutions For Health & Happiness.  Why not join me?  The objective is very simple:  Do at least one thing each and every day to promote health and happiness for 'YOU'.  Banish the 'Someday, Someday, Someday Syndrome'.  Instead, make every day New Year's Day.  Make every day count.  The list of possibilities is infinite and can be tailored to your own dreams, resolutions and daily goals.  If you need some help - a little nudge, a bit of inspiration, tips, advice, and news about the best ways to make resolutions a reality - please use IResolveTo.Com and the I Resolve To . . . Group at Gather as two of your resources.  Resolve365 in 2009.

Interestingly, several years ago, I learned about a disorder that you didn't hear about when I was a child in the 1960's, from one of my environmental clients The Audubon Naturalist Society in Maryland (ANS).   Nature Deficit Disorder, is a term coined by Richard Louv in his 2005 book Last Child In The Woods.  The term refers to the alleged trend that children are spending less time outdoors, resulting in a wide range of behavioral problems.  One of the reasons that I enjoy working for ANS is that it provides so many different classes and opportunities for children and adults alike to get outside, walk, experience and learn more about nature;  which in turn helps to instill a desire to protect and preserve the environment (another of my priority resolutions, right alongside walking/hiking outdoors and exercise).  If you would like to learn more about this interesting theory, I'm attaching links to articles and websites:

• Children & Nature Network
• Wikipedia - Nature Deficit Disorder
• National Wildlife Federation - Green Hour
• Salon.Com - Do Today's Kids "Have Nature Deficit Disorder"?
• Richard Louv's Website - Author Of Last Child In The Woods
  

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim Simpson, a former journalist, provides communications, fundraising services and strategic planning, for Members of Congress, non-profit organizations, corporations, and associations in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. A self-employed entrepreneur, with more than 30 years of experience, she launched IResolveTo.Com in 2005 in an effort to help others to achieve their New Year Resolutions, Dreams and Goals. Her motto is: I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year." Let's 'Go For It'.

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