~Pokemon SW & SH: Leon X Listener SFW: A Walk~{Patreon Exclusive}

Sometimes you just gotta take your stupid mental health walks.

Contains: Comfort, Advice, Mental Health Aide

Honestly the worse thing about mental health walks is that they work lol. I am always one for comfort, but sometimes doing something for yourself is getting up out of the possible depression mess you made and go on a walk, even if it's only five minutes long. You'll find that the fresh air will in fact do you good, and maybe that will push you to go longer. Easy movement, along with outside air really can help your brain. Sometimes self care is hard and working to try to actively help yourself, but you don't need to do it alone. I hope you all enjoy!

~Audio Transcript Below~

Leon:  I know one might think that it's silly and that an hour spent outside isn't going to help, but honestly, I promise, once we're about halfway through you'll find yourself feeling at least a little better.

Besides, we can go at our own pace. Don't have to treat it like a race or anything.

*pause*

Oh yes, I am very much not a fan of those who turn walking into a sport when you just want to spend time with them outside. Or hiking. There are some people I know who have a very different definition of hiking than me.

They just want to get to the highest place or the 'destination' as quickly as possible. Me? I get too distracted doing that. I want to talk, and to maybe stop and have a snack, look at a bug or a cool rock or some plants that we pass by. That's why I'm walking.

*pause*

One would think so, yeah? But there was a time in my life where most everything was about winning or being a winner, so I'm trying to focus more on slowing down, as it were.

Sometimes people need to literally stop and smell the roses.

*pause*

It's like......everything for some reason, especially in bigger cities, seems like it's 'go go go', how can we travel faster, how can we eat faster, how can we be faster, and as cool as a lot of modern technologies have become, and I may sound like an old man for saying this, sometimes I just need a break from the......productivity of it all?

Walks help me find the small things to appreciate every day, things in my life that I notice that make me smile. Like.....a sticker being put on a lamp post where it shouldn't be that caught my attention. The particular color of a flower that I thought was nice. It helps come back to ourselves......instead of being trapped in this....single minded march towards progress and productivity.

I think it goes hand in hand with the walking. While stopping, slowing down and keeping things at your own pace helps you stay present with yourself, going out and walking and moving helps us from being too much in ourselves....you know....wallowing......

It's all a delicate balance, really.....

*pause*

*chuckles* Oh I know.....people call me stupid, and I may not be the brightest bulb in the bunch.....I like to think I've figured out a thing or two.

*pause*

*laughs*

And even if it turns out you hate the walking, at least the fresh air....and the company.....will have done you good.