by Jane Dwinell

Recently on NPR's All Things Considered, a story was aired about osteoporosis and osteopenia, two conditions related to bone density. It focused on women who had been diagnosed with osteopenia — a possible precursor to the more serious osteoporosis — who were taking an expensive and not-without-side-effects medication that might — and I repeat: might — prevent osteoporosis. These women had been frightened by thoughts of broken hips and endless years of frailty and nursing homes by their doctors, and encouraged (after extensive and expensive testing) to take the medication, just in case it should prevent this "horror."

I was outraged. More than that, I wanted to throw things at the radio and scream from the rooftops, "No wonder our health care system is in trouble! Will everyone please wise up!?!?"

But I didn't. I fussed for a while, and then I sat down to write this blog.

Osteoporosis and osteopenia, and heart disease and diabetes and lung disease and obesity and depression and insomnia and constipation and who-knows-what-else could be prevented, cured, or, at the very least, held at bay by one simple thing: Walking. Every day. For at least a half hour.

Simple, right? It's an activity that anyone from a toddler to a centenarian can do (provided the above diseases or something else has not taken away your ability to walk). It's even free: you can walk in any comfortable pair of footwear — or in no footwear at all. You can walk just about anywhere, at any time of the day or night, and in any season, no matter where you live.

So why don't more people do this? There's so much to gain from this simple act and nothing to lose — except a myriad of chronic diseases and excess weight.

In addition to improved health, here are some other benefits of daily walking:

It's relaxing. A walk after a stressful day can be a soothing way to chill out and be ready for the next thing, whether it's family time, dinner time, or bedtime.

It's sociable. You can walk alone, but you can just as easily walk with a friend, your spouse or partner, your kids, or a coworker. It's a chance to chat in a less stressful environment, iron out some difficulties, work through a problem, catch up on work and friends, or just be together without words.

It's good for the environment. If you take up walking as a means of transportation for at least a part of your usual in-the-car time, you'll be helping the planet. And your wallet. (Oh, and did I mention your health?) You'll also have an opportunity to notice your environment: the flora and fauna, the waterways, the weather, crops throughout the growing season, the changing businesses and buildings and how they are impacting the above. You'll be better prepared to notice and act on anything that seems like it may be causing problems. Oh, and don't forget the trash you'll pick up along the way.

It's a way to get to know your neighbors. In addition to noticing the natural world on your walks, you'll also have an opportunity to notice — and interact with — your neighbors. It's important that we get out of our various private cubicles — our homes, our cars, our work environments — and get to know our neighbors. In times of trouble, and in times of celebration, it'll be important to know that we can count on each other.

It's a way to reduce the cost of health care. Our health care system is a mess and the current health care overhaul plan won't do much to fix it. But if everyone were healthier and took personal responsibility for their own health (instead of leaving it in the hands of the doctors, drug companies, and insurance giants), costs would eventually be lowered. And if not everyone's costs, at least your costs.

We are a fearful society and it seems that under all our fears lies the fear of death and disability. We think medical tests will save us, procedures will save us, drugs will save us from that thing called death. They might, and they might not. You could go in for your annual physical, have a battery of tests that show everything is in order, and get hit and killed by a drunk driver on the way home.

We rarely know when death will come knocking on our door. We can only work on our fears and understand that a test or a pill or a procedure will only delay the inevitable. We can try and find peace in our lives as they are: through our love for family and friends, through meaningful work, through doing fun things, and through caring for our bodies and keeping them as healthy as we can by eating well, getting enough sleep, reducing stress, stopping bad habits like smoking — and taking a daily walk.

It's actually pretty simple. Ever since our ancestors got up on two feet and set out across the landscape, we've been walking — for transportation, for food, for fun, and sometimes simply out of curiosity. Walking: we were born to do it. Let's not forget our legacy. It's time to start walking!

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About Common Sense
Common Sense is written by Jane Dwinell and Dana Dwinell-Yardley, a mother-daughter blog team. After homesteading in Vermont for over 25 years, Jane now splits her time between a small canal boat in France and a friendly neighborhood in New Orleans. Dana, inspired by her upbringing, resides in a container-garden-and-housemate-crazy Montpelier home. Send Jane and Dana your questions and comments about food, fuel, family, or financial independence! Write to mountaingirl at vtlink dot net. You can also check out some of their other writings at their website: Spirit of Life Publishing.