Sorry for the New Age title. But there exists a harmony that is only possible when the mind and body are balanced. As much as some of us strive to be intellectuals (guilty!) that transcend the body, we really are beings of nature.

Today I decided to walk to a tea shop that my coworker told me about. It was about a 40 minute walk, but it ended up turning into a 4 hour, 10 mile walk as I felt energized just by being outside on my feet. The weather was fantastic—overcast with fluffy clouds and occasional sunlight. Everything was the rich green of the north, and the 2 lakes I walked around placidly reflected the sky.

My body felt calm and strong-a feeling difficult to replicate in any other situation. My thoughts wandered freely, and at some points my eyes teared up unexpectedly. I believe I was emotional from the melding of the body and mind. Truly, there is a peace in walking outside with yourself.

I did end up getting some loose-leaf tea, but I also stopped by coffee shop (hello, cold-brew) and also a book store. It was refreshing to look through a small, curated collection of books since it has been years since I have been in a local book store. I picked up “The Philosophy of Walking” by Frederic Gros and a nostalgic bookmark that states “Chasing that Scholastic Bookfair High”. (I will let you know about the book later!)

Finally, after that long walk, I was craving fresh celery-lemon juice (yes, a little random), so I picked up some celery and lemon from the market on the way back to my apartment. Now that I am back and buzzy from the walk, my mind is ready to exercise itself. And here I am writing this blog, after which I will start on my new book.

It is common sense that there is a deep connection between the mind and the body, yet I don’t think many of us internalize this reality. Sometimes, we can neglect one of these sides and wonder why we feel so tired or sad. Our modern world is a convenient one where everything is in our hand, everything a click away. It is easy to find mental stimulation, but many of us hardly spend time using our body or being outside.

For most things in life, attempting to strike a balance between 2 sides leads to the maximum benefit. The balance between the physical and mental self aligns well with the balance between creation and consumption. When you are out physically experiencing the world, you are consuming the experiences and beauty around you. When you are mentally engaged, you are creating art and ideas that flow back into the world. It is a beautiful natural cycle.

If you have a free day or a free block of time, I challenge you to split your time into 2 halves: one half doing something physical and one half doing something mental (preferably in that order). I believe you will feel a sense of being alive and perhaps even joy that you haven’t felt in a long time!