Strength for the Storm: Why We Walk Every Day

We all come to the trail carrying something—some of it visible, some of it not. Sometimes it’s a diagnosis, a difficult conversation, a change we didn’t ask for. Other times, it’s just the weight of trying to keep it all together.

During a recent walk, someone in the group shared that they were facing a life-altering change related to their health. It wasn’t my place to fix it, but I offered them what I know to be true from my own transformation journey: when life gives us resistance, our only job is to build the strength to meet it.

For me, that strength has come in many forms. I’ve had to make serious adjustments in how I eat. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of identifying triggers. Certain foods used to go hand-in-hand with certain moments—watching the game, scrolling late at night, celebrating small wins. I didn’t cut anything out, but I had to build clear rules around when and how I engage with those foods. And when a trigger pops up outside those rules? That’s when I lean on discipline and remind myself of what I really want.

I shared this with my fellow walker because we all have associations that tempt us back into habits that no longer serve us. Recognizing those patterns is the first step to breaking free from them.

The best time to build strength is before the storm hits. Whether you’re awaiting test results, navigating emotional change, or bracing for a hard season, movement helps. Walking helps. It won’t fix everything, but it prepares you to respond with more endurance, more energy, and more resolve.

At a certain point in life—especially in our 40s and beyond—this isn’t about aesthetics anymore. This is about resilience. This is about being physically prepared for the unexpected, emotionally rooted in tough seasons, and mentally grounded in the face of grief, change, or loss.

We walk daily not just to stay fit. We walk to be strong enough for the days ahead.

And that strength? It’s not just found in the miles—it’s found in the choice to keep showing up.