You make the decision and you execute it. You make your body move and go in whatever direction you've selected. No waiting for a phone call before you can take that next step. No worry about how far you are going into hock to pull it off. It doesn't need to take a thimbleful of gas.
The instant you start to walk, you feel a sense of progress. You move down the street. You are going somewhere! Finding something you can make happen when much of what you need to happen is beyond your control is a key piece of self care. Besides, walking helps you think.
We all know walking is great exercise. That's true--and another good reason to go for that walk. But it's the mental health boost that's the biggest plus as part of your strategy for dealing with an economic downturn. When it starts to feel like you can't do a single thing to make the situation better, taking the time to go somewhere on foot goes well beyond calories burned and heart rate achieved in terms of the beneficial effects.
A walk provides a cadence and that seems to help thoughts get themselves in order. After a few blocks or a mile, stuff just starts to make more sense. Walking is calming. One foot in front of the other, again and again. If you want, you can make it a meditation. Go somewhere you haven't been yet and make it an adventure. Or give it to yourself as a treat. (My brother has taken this to his personal perfection. He walks four miles each way for a glass of good scotch at a bar he enjoys.)
I walk when I am trying to solve a problem, too. The steady pace and resulting predictability give my mind a chance to run on automatic pilot for a while. Often, that's when the best solutions slip in--when I'm not actively trying to find them. When I took a screenwriting class where I had to make the characters do things I couldn't imagine them doing, walking always revealed a way. The problems I'm walking on with this downturn are gnarlier, but the process is still spot on. Walking will get you to a good solution faster.
That bit about it being good for your health makes it an even more valuable tool in a downturn, too. Walking helps you stay healthy. It helps you control your weight. Both of those results can keep you away from those very expensive places--the doctor's office and the pharmacy counter. And seeing a nice version of yourself when you look in the mirror makes you feel like a success, no matter what the economy is doing.
Walking helps dissipate stress, too, because you feel yourself DOING something. Because of that, it energizes you.
Walking also gives you a chance to meet your neighbors, learn your neighborhood, and get out in the sunshine. Who knows what you might find when you venture out on foot? A lower cost, friendlier place to get your hair cut? The perfect place to train for a triathlon? A job opportunity? True love?
You won't know until you give it a chance. So take a walk. It's a low cost, high value element of a good overall strategy for living well. Go by yourself. Go with your best friend--or your dog. Go with God. Just go!
What are you waiting for? Get out there. And then keep doing it for the rest of your life. The payout is huge.
Copyright (c) 2009 Mary Lloyd
Your walking tour can be concentrated in the eight blocks of buildings which were designated in 1980 by the City of Orlando as an historical district. The district is a cohesive collection of buildings that reflects the commercial and governmental history of Orlando.
The district is composed of buildings constructed from the 1880s until the early 1940s. Surrounded by modern skyscrapers, approximately 60 historic buildings in this district offer a glimpse into the city's past. The historic district designation has helped preserve buildings that might otherwise have been demolished due to the rapid rate of growth and demand for commercial space in this booming city.
Orlando's first historic district demonstrates the economic and political growth of the city for over six decades. The district contains historic structures such as the depot, the courthouse, banking, office and retail buildings. The variety of building styles and sizes reflects the evolution of architecture and construction in downtown.
The styles represented in the district are Queen Anne, Twentieth Century Commercial Style, the Beaux-Arts, Mediterranean Revival, Art Deco and Art Moderne. Nearly all of the buildings are of masonry construction due to a series of fires in the late 1800s that destroyed many wood structures and prompted the City to pass new building standards.
Here are some of the sites on this 2.5 mile tour.
1. Well'sbuilt Hotel, 511 West South Street
Dr. William Monroe Wells constructed this hotel in 1926. It provided lodging to African Americans during segregation when rooms were not available to them in other areas. Many famous entertainers and athletes stayed here. Next-door was Dr. Wells' South Street Casino, where many of the entertainers performed for the African American community. The Well'sbuilt Museum of African American History is located here now.
2. Dr. William Monroe Wells House, 519 West South Street
Dr. William Monroe Wells built this Foursquare style house on a lot one block to the east in 1924. He was known as one of Orlando's longest practicing African American doctors and was involved in the commercial and cultural life of the community with the Well?sbuilt Hotel and the South Street Casino.
3. Victorian House & Cottage, 541 West South Street
The Victorian House and Cottage are among the only remaining Folk Victorian structures left in the city. The level of detail found in the original turned columns, railings and carved fretwork is not found in any other
buildings in Orlando.
4. Hankins Building, 647 West South Street
Dr. I.S. Hankins constructed this Art Deco commercial building in 1947. Hankins was an early African American physician and civic leader. He was an active participant in the Washington Shores development, which provided opportunities for new home ownership for Orlando's African Americans.
5. Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, 701 West South Street
This African American church was organized in 1919 and met in various locations until land was finally purchased. Church members made the rusticated concrete blocks that were used for construction of the walls. The Gothic style church opened in 1921.
6. Ebenezer Methodist Church, 596 West Church Street
As early as 1892, this congregation had a wooden church on this site. It was the first African American Methodist church in Orlando. Starting in 1922, the members built this Gothic style brick church.
7. Slemons Department Store, 129 West Church Street
This dry goods store was constructed in 1924 for William Slemons. He first came to Orlando in 1886. Slemons and his sons owned a number of stores in downtown Orlando from the 1880's well into the middle of the twentieth century.
Each building has its own story and the buildings listed above are only a small portion of the tour. You can download the whole tour on a pdf, complete with map at http://www.cityoforlando.net/planning/cityplanning/Walk_Tour04.pdf or you can visit an online site for more information about the history of Orlando and the latest information about its downtown area: www.cityoforlando.net/historic www.downtownorlando.com .
So, make sure you take some time to see the historical sites of Orlando on your next visit to the area.
Both Mary Lloyd & Mark Whichard are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Mary Lloyd has sinced written about articles on various topics from self improvement and motivation, Fitness and Careers and Job Hunting. Mary Lloyd is the author of Supercharged Retirement: Ditch the Rocking Chair, Trash the Remote, and Do What You Love. She offers seminars on how you can create a meaningful retirement for yourself and consults to help your business attract and use retire. Mary Lloyd's top article generates over 3600 views. Bookmark Mary Lloyd to your Favourites.
Mark Whichard has sinced written about articles on various topics from Loire Valley, Flea Pest Control and Orlando Vacation. Mark Whichard is a frequent writer on Orlando Tourism. Mark and his wife Susan are the proprietors of Disney Home Rentals, an agency that rents vacation homes near Disney World. Visit their website:. Mark Whichard's top article generates over 12100 views. Bookmark Mark Whichard to your Favourites.