Happiness in every step

With spring well underway (finally!), folks will start getting more active outdoors with the fair weather.  Most people don't realize that physical activity, even something as simple as walking, not only helps keep a healthy body but also strengthens the mind.  As the old adage goes, if you don't have your health, you don't have much — this goes for both physical and mental.

Our society's affection with the sedentary lifestyle appears to intensify with each passing year:  just think about how many screens most families have in their homes (and no exception for yours truly) — between computer monitors, televisions, mobile phones, and tablets — and one sees more opportunity to sit and stare at moving pictures instead of interacting with the surrounding "real world".  While productivity and entertainment delivered via screens certainly has its place to satisfy our brain's desires, we all need to remember that our bodies also deserve proper interaction.

According to Ravi Gupta, a Londoner who established the fundraiser called Hike for Happiness, "Physical exercise, like walking, is one of the most important aspects of mental-health treatment. Londoners are lucky to have access to over a 100 kilometres of hiking trails and walking paths through parks, woods, and along rivers. Hiking and walking can truly contribute to one’s happiness and wellness."

Mr. Gupta hopes to see Hike for Happiness achieve the following:

1. Raise money for mental-health patients to enable those with limited financial means to be able to continue treatment.
2. Encourage more people to show their support for family, friends, colleagues, and even strangers with mental illnesses. 
3. Encourage more business to support their employees with mental illnesses. 

The first Hike for Happiness takes place on Saturday, June 7, 2014, with two hikes starting at 9:00 AM.  Participate in a one-hour walk or a two-hour hike, with both taking place at the Medway Valley Trail.

If you like to walk, or want to see spring burst forth in the Medway Valley, register for this event and help a worthwhile cause at the same time.

To learn more, check out these links:

• Web site: hikeforhappiness.ca
• Facebook: facebook.com/HikeForHappiness
• Twitter: twitter.com/HikeForHappines