WORLD SAUNTERING DAY
Slow down. In fact, try moseying around. June 19 is World Sauntering Day. The day counters the attention given to jogging and encourages people to stroll, ramble, and wander.
Sauntering is a style of walking. A saunter is a slow walk which carries a cheerful attitude. Those who saunter don’t hurry. They absorb the wonders of nature and contemplate the weather. A rare saunterer plots a course, nor do they know their destination. Time? There’s no schedule.
A wooded path or beach make for excellent saunters. They offer visual and auditory stimulation while allowing the mind to wander. Tranquil city parks present plenty of people watching opportunities as well as comfortable benches and scenic views to ponder on a lazy afternoon.
The windrow of an open field leading to nowhere would be the perfect sauntering place of a naturalist such as Henry David Thoreau or John Burroughs, two famous saunters.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Step out the back door or take time on your lunch break. Stroll down a quiet lane or in the park. Saunter down to your favorite bookstore. Take in the view, the people, the scenery – leisurely. Use #WorldSaunteringDay to share on social media.
HISTORY
W.T. Rave created World Sauntering Day in 1979 after jogging began to grow in popularity. He wanted people to slow down and appreciate the world around them. The idea came to him while vacationing at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in Michigan. Perhaps the hotel’s world’s longest porch at 660 feet offered a perfect sauntering place for inspiration.
