MOVE YOUR BODY - CHANGE YOUR MOOD
The way I did it.
I took a delight walk.
Nothing fancy. No special outfit or shoes. Just a simple walk down my street with the idea of noticing everything.
To me, delight is joy, thankfulness, butterflies, and goosebumps. It’s something I reach for. That little lifting of your heart when your senses are flooded with a memory or an unexpected experience. It can be simple, like when your morning alarm plays your favorite song … or majestic, like the sunrise over the ocean.
However, it can also be elusive.
Before my walk today, I was running a conversation over and over again in my head. The day before, I ran into a friend I hadn’t seen in a while, and she was complaining about everything and nothing. Mostly about the state of the world, and in her opinion, the grass was much greener on the other side of the pond. I could tell that she wanted me to agree with her. I nodded and smiled, but didn’t say anything. I left feeling wretched and missing my friend.
I was still stewing and wondering if I should have said something. Perhaps, “You’re comparing apples to oranges” or “Whole countries in Europe are smaller than one state!” But then I caught myself. I doubted she was open to a different viewpoint. And why was I letting it affect my mood so much?
The first thing I noticed on my walk was the sound of the cicadas. The buzzing of the males in search of a mate was interspersed with birds calling back and forth from trees on either side of the street. Standing still for a moment I noticed the sound of the breeze was different when heard through the palm tree, the magnolia, and the live oak. The cicadas, the birds, and the breeze were playing nature’s concert. With the slow, rhythmic sounds of summertime, I could feel my tense shoulders relax. I inhaled a deep breath through my nose and filled my lungs with the salty, sweet, scented air.
As I continued, crossing from side to side to chase the shade from the trees above, I stopped at the firecracker plant. The red flowers were so bright that they seemed to glow against the green foliage. I remembered that the kids liked to pluck the flowers and suck the nectar, stretching their tongues like hummingbird beaks to reach the sweetness … and then stumbling and laughing at the sight of themselves. I plucked a few and giggled, feeling like a thief getting away with a prize.
Having nearly completed my circuit, I opened the gate to the backyard and spotted an almost ripe pineapple. I had forgotten about it. And the best part is that I grew it! Months ago, I stuck a discarded pineapple top into an empty planter. How thrilling to see what it has become.
My short, unscheduled walk opened my eyes and my heart to the simple wonders that surround us. That’s the thing with delight: the more you look for it, the more you find it. And rarely will that happen if you’re rushing or anxious.
The way I did it. Move your body, change your mood.
This is part of what I’m calling Expeditionvision—my quest to find what a meaningful life looks like. One experiment per week: Possible strategies for a happier life. Trying things on purpose and paying attention to what happens. I’m not offering advice or giving instructions. I’m just sharing the way I did it. If there’s something that you’ve been wanting to try—but haven’t—I’d love to hear about it. I’m open to reader suggestions for future experiments.
Field Notes: For Paid Subscribers
Paid subscribers, I’ve added a short field notes section below with what surprised me the most, what I didn’t expect, what I might do next time, plus things I’m still working on.