Anxiety. It presents itself in a multitude of ways. It might be a knot in the pit of your stomach, a racing heart rate, or a heightened sense of fear. You might find yourself sleeping less, feeling overwhelmed, flushed or with a tingling in your arms and fingers. However it manifests itself, anxiety can be tough to overcome, but walking can help.

My day starts out at 5:40 a.m. I haul myself out of bed, stumble to the bathroom and throw on some workout clothes before my early morning meeting. I work until my kids get up for school, then make lunches, straighten the house, and get my boys ready for the day. I speed-walk the dog behind my son who has hopped on his bicycle to get to school, throwing out the occasional hello to the neighbors as we quickly pass by. Once he’s safely at school, I fire up a podcast to listen to on my way home, then once in the door, grab a quick breakfast before heading back to my desk.

Pack member Jane Cook, age 75, doesn’t let the hardships of life get her down. Being widowed at age 28 with two small kids, and having had bilateral knee replacements, Jane has learned to adapt to her situation and find ways to stay intentional according to her own abilities. With this mindset and intention, Jane has found herself down 16 pounds, and when not walking in the water, she’s getting in her miles with her best walking pals—her Jetti Poles, Trust and Hope.

We recently chatted with Jane, and here’s just a few things we’ve discovered about her.

The clock just struck 2 p.m. and your eyelids start to droop, feeling heavy as bricks. You force them open, willing the sunlight outside to power them to stay alert, but the urge to close seems to be winning the struggle. You realize you’ve been sitting for several unproductive minutes, foggy-headed, unable to focus. Thinking about all the things you still need to accomplish, you know you need to do something to find your energy. Should you head to the kitchen for some caffeine? No, you should take a power nap. And here’s why.

Put away the excuses and start an intentional walking practice. We’ve compiled 99 reasons why you should do just that.

When we think back on the past two years, a flood of emotions come rushing through our minds. There were times of happiness, and times of sorrow. There were moments of fear and uncertainty, and others of relief and acceptance. There was warmth on our faces, and tears in our eyes. Deep breaths in and long exhales out. There was sun. And there was rain.

Known on social media as Damnit Dara, 44-year-old Pack Member and breast cancer survivor Dara Dunbar, is walking through life with her head held high and a smile on her face. You’ll usually find her getting her walk in before things get started in the mornings, and now you’ll see her with her two new favorite additions—”Peace” and “Quiet”—her Jetti Poles.

We recently chatted with Dara and here’s just some of what we discovered.

After a long, cold Winter, we can’t wait for Spring to arrive. With the change of seasons comes warmer weather, more sunshine, colorful landscapes, and—achoo!—seasonal allergies. There’s no doubt that this time of year beckons us outside, but itchy, watery eyes and sniffling noses may make us think twice. But, think again. Walking outdoors may actually be just the thing to beat those seasonal allergies.

We spent a lot of time searching for the perfect color for Jetti Poles.

The color had to represent their potential—their limitless possibilities—and it seemed unfair to settle for something typical … like blue or turquoise or teal.

It had to be about YOU.

When did we become convinced that only big things count? If we’re not moving mountains, saving the world or transforming our lives, then why bother?

Here’s why. Because life is lived in the moments and change is made one small step at a time. The little things do count. And every mile does matter.

They matter for two related, but different, reasons.

Pack Member Zucchuni B. Murphy is embracing her 50s and hitting the streets of New York City to nurture her own health and well-being. Accompanied by her two cocker spaniels, she finds her therapy in walking, and keeps her head held high as she takes in the sights and sounds of the city.

We recently chatted with Zucchuni and here’s just some of what we discovered.

There’s no doubt that walking is good for you. The list of mental, emotional and physical benefits is long (read about 12 reasons walking is magic here), but did you know that walking can actually help your heart health? It’s true. Research has shown consistent associations between walking and better cardiovascular health for people of any age, both healthy and with heart conditions. Following are five heart-healthy benefits you can get from a regular walking practice.

Several years ago, a couple of friends asked me if I’d like to join them on a run. Now, both of these friends were what I’d consider runners, and I, well, was not. Sure, I had run from time to time. Even participated in the occasional 5k. But a runner? Nope. However, I agreed to join them as I was excited about the opportunity to share this experience with them, and hoping that running with friends would motivate—er, distract—me from the pain I was sure to endure.

During this run, one of my friends who happens to be a long-distance runner, referred to me as an athlete. “A what?” I thought. Not me. I had never played team sports before, unless you’re counting recreational soccer at age 8 or the neighborhood swim team at age 10, but I stayed active. I went to the gym fairly regularly. I walked. Even jogged a bit. Often chased around a toddler. But an athlete?

This February, in honor of Black History Month, we are sharing with you 28 quotes.. Quotes meant to inspire. Quotes meant to motivate. And quotes meant to remind us how Black women have done—and are doing—so much for our community. Our country. Our world.

Don’t let the short winter days interfere with your walking practice! If you find yourself starting or ending your day with a walk in the dark, here are nine tips to help keep you safe:

Life is complicated. It’s full of ups and downs. Hugs and tears. Agreements and misunderstandings. How we approach each of these matters. And in each, we have a choice. We can choose to lift others up, or knock them down. We can teach or we can preach. We can assume the best in others, or we can assume the worst. This month, join us as we walk through four of our core values as a guide to always lead with love.

Embracing the stage in life where her children are grown, Pack Member Lacey Salois, age 43, has turned her focus to self care. She takes the lessons she learned along the way—some the hard way—and is building a life that truly serves her.

We recently chatted with Lacey to get to know her better and here’s just some of what we discovered.

You do your best to stay positive. To look at the silver linings and make the best out of your situation, but there are times when you may feel run down and sad, sometimes with no explanation at all. It’s times like these, especially during the late Fall and Winter months when you may experience symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder, better known as SAD. Coupled with the lingering effects of the pandemic, this could be a recipe for the winter blues. How do you climb out of those feelings? Here are nine ways to walk away the winter blues and feel more like yourself again.

Working from home, whether by choice or because of the pandemic, certainly has its benefits, but it often leads to a blur between work and life, causing quite the imbalance. And because of this, you just might find yourself sitting more, and moving less. But, with a few small tweaks, you can stay active and stay productive while working remotely. Here are nine tips how: