About two months ago, I read James Clear’s Atomic Habits, one of the most powerful self-help and inspiration books I have read. According to James, the power of small habits cannot be overemphasized. They work like magic. If you make something a habit, and do it everyday for one year, by the end of the year, you will be 37 times better. If you develop the habit of saving money every day, by the end of the year, you will have moved from level 0 to level 37.
For this week’s India United prompt, the community asks an interesting question: what is one habit that has changed your life? Over the years, the habit of taking walks alone has become my source of escape on difficult days. I remember exactly when this habit started. It was in 2022, the most difficult and troubling year for my family. The house was always hot, and everyone was running helter skelter, looking for ways to help or who to call for help. At the time, I had nothing. I had not started writing on Hive. I had nothing to offer. I had no money and my words felt weightless. I felt I was an obstruction.
Things were not going smoothly for my family and since I couldn’t help with resources, I felt the only way was to leave the house sometimes, at least that would give them more space to run around. They might want to discuss some things, but choose to keep quiet. Maybe they felt like I was not old enough to know it or it was not my place. My walks were always in the evenings, never in the morning or afternoon. It started on a regular day. My legs moved and before I knew it, they were taking me far. Far away from the house. The air was cool. It was the perfect weather for a walk.
I had a full blown conversation with myself as I walked. I talk to and with myself a lot, but I discovered that the conversation was a lot better on that walk. I got back home that day, and for the first time in a long while, I felt relaxed. I enjoyed the feeling and I was certain that I would definitely try it again. The next day, the day after, and the day after, I went on an evening walk and before I knew it, days turned to weeks and weeks to months. Taking walks alone became a part of me. A habit that helped ease the tension in my head.
When things got better for my family, I didn’t completely stop taking my evening walks. The home was lighter and happier, so instead of going on walks every day, I changed my routine to twice or thrice a week. Whenever I feel my head is full or overloaded, I take a walk. Whenever things start to feel overwhelming, I take a walk just to relax. Allow the air to caress your body. It helps a lot.
This is my entry for the India United contest. The topic is: A Habit That Changed My Life. You can find the prompt here
Thanks for reading!
The images used are mine.