When:
🗓️ June 19
Where:
🌐 Everywhere
Since:
1979
🌼
Created by W.T. Rabe in 1979
On this glorious day, people around the globe are encouraged to ditch the frantic pace of their daily lives and take a moment to appreciate the simple pleasures of a leisurely walk. It’s a day when we toss aside the hustle and bustle of our fast-paced lives and embrace the simple joy of sauntering.
If you have successfully ignored all the relaxation and unwinding days this year has thrown at you then World Sauntering Day is definitely for you!
This event has “World” in its name and has been around for decades, so you know this holiday is legit!
What is sauntering?
Imagine yourself strolling through a park, feeling the sun caress your skin, smelling the fragrant blooms, and losing yourself in the gentle rhythm of your footsteps.
Sauntering is a fantastic way to reconnect with the world around you. In our modern age of smartphones and constant connectivity, we often forget to stop and smell the roses, or in this case, saunter alongside them. It’s an opportunity to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of our surroundings without a care in the world.
The word “sauntering” most likely developed from the Middle English “saunteren”, which means ”to wonder or muse, to be in a state of reverie”. Over time, the meaning shifted from mental to physical wandering.
Sauntering is good for you!
Not only does sauntering provide a chance for relaxation, but it also has its fair share of health benefits. It’s a low-impact activity that gets your body moving, even if it’s at a delightfully unhurried pace.
Besides the obvious benefits of fresh air and physical movement, sauntering allows us to slow down and reconnect with the world around us. It’s a chance to observe the little things we often overlook—a butterfly flitting by, the rustling leaves, or the joyous laughter of kittens playing in the distance.
Sauntering is exercise and meditation in one. Even relaxation can be effective!
So, lace up your most comfortable shoes and let the gentle rhythm of sauntering put a spring in your step while improving your cardiovascular health.
Even you can do it!
Now, here’s the best part. Sauntering doesn’t require any special equipment or training. It’s a democratic activity that anyone can partake in, regardless of age, fitness level, or fashion sense. Whether you choose to saunter through a picturesque park, along a sandy beach, or even just around your neighborhood, the possibilities are endless. Just remember to keep that sauntering spirit alive and resist the urge to break into a full-on sprint.
How it all began:
World Sauntering Day was the brainchild of W.T. Rabe, an American columnist and journalist.
It was the year 1979, and Rabe noticed a world that was increasingly frenetic, with people rushing around and rarely taking the time to appreciate life’s simple pleasures. On top of that, jogging was the newest exercise craze and that inspired Rabe to come up with an exercise with a tongue in cheek take on both the healthy exercise of jogging and the unhealthy spirit of workaholism.
In response to the fast-paced madness, Rabe decided to create a day dedicated to the art of sauntering, a day where people could slow down, wander aimlessly, and truly experience the world around them.
Thus, armed with his pen (or perhaps a typewriter, since we’re talking about the ’70s here), Rabe penned a column that encouraged readers to embrace the unhurried elegance of sauntering. The idea caught on like wildfire, and soon people from all corners of the globe were celebrating this newfound appreciation for the leisurely stroll.
And thus, on June 19th of that year, the first World Sauntering Day was born.
In Conclusion
So, whether you’re sauntering solo, hand in hand with a loved one, or even enjoying a casual stroll with your furry friend, World Sauntering Day invites you to embrace the beauty of taking it slow. After all, life isn’t always a race; sometimes, it’s about savoring the journey one step at a time.
And remember, if anyone asks you why you are sauntering down the park with a flower crown sipping on a cooled off cappuccino, just tell them that Wild Calendar has given you permission to do so!
So, let’s put on our walking shoes, adjust our sauntering swagger, and hit the streets with an unrushed flair.
Happy World Sauntering Day!
#WorldSaunteringDay #InternationalSaunteringDay #SaunteringDay
