A Special Kind of Walk

A married couple came to me for help planning their next chapter.

One partner is ready to wind down his career.  The other, a bit younger, is actively job hunting after being laid off during the pandemic.

Both were dealing with the stress of being cooped up together for months, away from friends and family.

In one of our first sessions, they saw how much anxiety each had been holding inside, not wanting to burden the other. 

So I suggested they start taking “decompression walks.” 

As you walk, each partner takes a turn at sharing what is weighing him/her down inside.

The other’s job is just to listen. No advice, no action. Just let them know you hear them.

My clients have been doing this for a couple of months.

They aim for two walks a week.

Not only has it helped relieve their stress, but they are using the time to “play” with the ideas and dreams that are coming up in our work together.

Most of us are dealing with some level of anxiety, perhaps more now than ever. 

We don’t realize how much it can help to air those worries to a partner or trusted friend.

Just doing that much can also make room for new energy.

Maybe it will for you, too.

Judith

P.S. I posted a video version of this story/tip on Linked In, where I do three videos most weeks.  If you would like to see more stories like this one, feel free to follow me there.  Some of them are also on my YouTube channel under Judith Kurnick Coaching. You can subscribe here.