Jonathon Stalls – Walk2Connect & Intrinsic Paths

Jonathan Stalls talks about his Journey

Jonathon’s “journey” is not typical. It includes a 242-day walk across America in which he learned the beauty of experiencing America at its core, walking and connecting with others.

Jonathon has since created the Walk2Connect Cooperative, which inspires others to walk side-by-side and Instrinsic Paths, an artistic, creative, and innovative series of projects and events.

I was honored to have Jonathon as my latest guest on my Podcast, Carpe Diem Connections, and to hear more of his thoughts on what creates meaning and connection in life.

I’ve especially been enjoying being part of Walk2Connect. Jonathon and the other Walk Leaders are so creative in their approach of really combining two of my favorite things: Walking and Connection!

For example, I’ve been participating in a WALKtober Bingo Challenge for the month of October. Each morning, participants are greeted with a beautifully written email and a challenge for the day.. it might be a mindful meditation that helps us connect with nature, or a suggestion to take a moon-lit walk.

I feel so grateful to have met Jonathon, to learn from him, and to be part of the communities that he leads. His example is an inspiration for all of us to mindfully connect with nature and with one another as we move through life together.

Resources:

Create a Walking Scavenger Hunt

If you want to have a “Carpe Diem Mindset,” first you might want to figure out things that bring you happiness and joy. For me, three things I love are walking, sunshine, and playing games – like scavenger hunts!

Now that it’s summer and there’s plenty of sunshine, I’m creating my own “scavenger hunt” by walking the trails in my neighborhood and hunting for things that make me happy… and it turns out there are SO many things I’m finding!

To start this adventure, I found a map of my neighborhood at the Town of Superior’s Website that had all the walking trails marked:

Superior Trail Map
Superior Trail Map

Every day, I’m hitting the trails and taking pictures, looking for things that make me smile.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Purple Flowers!
Painted Rocks with Inspirational Messages
Signs Congratulating Graduating Seniors
“Mutton Mowers” – Goat Grazing to Mitigate Noxious Weed
Beautiful scenery
Kids and Dogs!
A TireSwing!
Lovely Parks!

What things can you find that make you smile?

I’m grateful to the Town of Superior and all the people who make this area such a wonderful place to live.

I also thank Walk2Connect and Walk With a Doc for all their inspirational and motivational encouragement to keep walking!