A walking challenge that sparked connection
Melissa Quist, Jeana Hunt and Janet Rock at Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens
Melissa Quist of Dartmouth, N.S., started September with a wave of motivation. As a mom of four and an adventurer at heart, she had been feeling less active since the beginning of the pandemic. So, she did something bold: on the first day of the month, Mrs. Quist put a callout on Facebook, inviting friends to join her for daily one-hour walks.
The responses started to pour in. “I received a few replies in the comments, some personal messages and texts. Some people responded right away, and others saw my post and reached out later saying they’d like to join me,” she said.
In addition to the online responses, Mrs. Quist made a list of people she wanted to spend time with and places she wanted to go. She reflected on which family members and friends she thought might be up for an adventure. Then she contacted people to schedule a date, time and place to go.
That was all it took to spark a month of renewed connections. Her callout for walking companions was the perfect remedy for the isolation the pandemic had wrought.
“Walking each day for an hour with a different person gave me the opportunity to reconnect with people in an easy and affordable way,” said Mrs. Quist. Sticking to outdoor meetings also made it safe to get together.
Creating a goal of walking one hour a day was energizing for Mrs. Quist. “Having that goal and sharing it with others on Facebook created accountability, which kept me motivated,” she said. Each day presented a small adventure she could look forward to.
“Spending time with others laughing, sharing and caring was perhaps the greatest benefit of the experience.” — Melissa Quist
Melissa Quist and JJ Choo at Russell Lake.
It didn’t take long for Mrs. Quist to feel the benefits of her daily walks. She noted that her walks helped her feel better physically and improved her ability to sleep better at night. However, “spending time with others laughing, sharing and caring was perhaps the greatest benefit of the experience,” she said.
Spending time walking one-on-one with friends and family gave Mrs. Quist some vital insights. “I left every walk recognizing how much each of us needs each other, how valuable the people I associate with are, how concerned everyone is about their loved ones, and what compassionate lengths people will go to support those they hold dear,” she said.
Mrs. Quist’s September walking challenge also strengthened her relationships, as walking together allowed for more intimate and genuine conversations.
Mushrooms at Sackville Lakes Park
Some takeaways for Mrs. Quist were:
It felt good to accomplish a goal.
It was worth the effort to do something challenging.
Physical and mental health are intertwined.
Bringing people along on her journey added to the joy of her experience.
Now, Mrs. Quist is thinking about her next goal. She wants to make sure whatever she does feels fresh and accessible. She’s thinking it may be along the lines of cycling, yoga, snowshoeing or Nordic walking.
If you’re interested in taking on a similar monthly movement challenge, Mrs. Quist has some advice:
Calla Quist and Maia Mushka in Dartmouth
Make a list of people you want to walk with (such as close friends, children, your spouse, coworkers, neighbours, relatives, club members, community group members and social media connections).
Make a list of places you’d like to visit. It could include places in your neighbourhood, city trails or provincial parks.
Google parks and hikes plus the name of your area if you’d like to explore beyond your neighbourhood.
When walking with others, it helps to schedule walks a week ahead.
If someone can’t go, ask someone else.
Don’t be discouraged by a few rejections; everyone’s schedules and motivations are different.
If you’re unsure someone would like to be your walking companion, ask them if they are interested first and then set a date second.
Invite people you haven’t seen in awhile; it’s an easy way to re-connect.
Ask the people you are inviting if they have a place they’d like to go. Mrs. Quist discovered some new spots thanks to her friends.
Don’t worry about speed, distance travel or calories burned. Establish the habit, then work toward bigger things later.
Calla Quist and Maia Mushka in Dartmouth
Canada 150 Trail from Shannon Park, Dartmouth
Are you inspired by Melissa Quist’s story? Tell us about a challenge you’d like to take on in the comments below!