Exercise and Community Service?

Even in these days of multi-tasking, it may seem strange to put exercise and community together in the same sentence. How we accomplish that is when my husband, Steve, and I take walks together. We are able to get out in nature; see beauty; get in touch with our muse; burn up some calories; have walking meditations; have delightful and insightful conversations; and clean-up the public road.

Now, Steve has been doing this for years. I have admired the way he consistently picks up trash—rain or shine. He always puts a plastic bag in his pocket before he starts his walk in preparation for his personally assigned civil mission. Neighbors recognize him year round picking up rubbish by the side of the road.

There was a time that this type of walk was boring for me. I had to get off the path, and see something different each time that I would go for a walk. These days, I see the benefit of just getting out and moving my body. Even though I have done this walk over and over again, the moment is new. So, if I am really present, then I haven't had this exact experience before. The wind may be blowing in a different direction. I may see different birds today than yesterday. Different cars will be going by today, with different people in the cars. So, in that respect, even though I am walking the same route each walk is different.

Besides getting a cardiovascular workout from the walking, we have to bend down to pick up the litter. The stooping and bending helps to maintain balance. Not only that, it keeps the roadside looking clean. It gives both Steve and I a sense of helping keep our environment unblemished. In essence, this exercise in litter removal is a form of worship.

Is there a way that you can get exercise and help your community or environment?