Today, we honor the lady who took the chance to dream big and turn that dream into a movement that has changed thousands upon thousands of lives. Shout out to our inspiring 99 Walks Pack Leader Joyce Shulman on this "Boss's Day." We couldn't be more grateful for her vision and leadership.

Whether you tune into her daily Facebook lives, have read her book Walk Your Way to Better, or have had the privilege to work with her, there’s no doubt that something she’s said has stuck with you. Our team couldn’t think of a better way to honor her than to share what we have learned from her.

Walking up the stairs in my house the other day, I noticed a ball of dust and dog hair in the corner of a step. I saw it out of the corner of my eye and kept walking. Later that afternoon, I noticed it again. And then again the next morning. And one more time before I finally picked it up.

Now in my defense, the first time I had walked up the stairs, I had something in my hands and the second time, I was on my way to do something. But, if I’m going to be really honest, with you and with myself, I just didn’t feel like bending over and picking up the dustball.

For many of us, the start of Fall is a welcome time. The heat of the summer starts to fade, the warm and inviting hues start appearing in nature and on front porches, and the scents of the season begin wafting out of windows and eateries. It’s when neighbors spend more time outdoors, and activities abound with celebrations from spooky to lighthearted. Whatever your liking, here are 30 Fall bucket list activities to truly savor the season. Lace up and get going, because Fall is here!

At 99 Walks, we talk a lot about our whirlwind. The getting caught up in the everyday to-dos that often rule our day. Sometimes, okay maybe oftentimes, we get to the end of the day and try to figure out what we actually accomplished. Because when you don’t define that key “thing” that you want to make happen, well, it likely just won’t happen.

But, what if…

You’ve probably gone for a walk and never thought further about calling it anything different. Or defined yourself in any other way than a walker. But in truth, there are many terms and words that define walking that just might open your eyes to the nuances that come with being a walker. Here are nine of our favorites.

What’s your go-to for getting your relaxation on? Or do you even have one? Sometimes, we convince ourselves that if we can’t manage an entire spa day, then why bother? But making time to relax doesn’t have to consume an entire day. In just a few minutes, you can find ways to unwind and rejuvenate your spirit, and to show you just how easy it can be, we’ve put together our nine favorite ways to relax.

If you really stop to listen to yourself—that inner self talk that is often running through your mind—what do you hear? Is it friendly? Is it positive? Is it motivating? Or, do you more often find yourself picking on every little detail, or beating yourself up about what you didn’t do? If it’s the latter, you’re not alone. It’s easy to fall into a well of negativity, but if you take the time to flip your thoughts and speak to yourself as you would a friend or loved one, you might just find a change in more than just your self talk. We’re willing to bet that you’ll stand a little taller, walk a little farther, and smile a little brighter.

When I was young, my parents would occasionally go off on a weekend adventure, leaving me with one aunt or another. They would pack their toothbrushes and a change of clothes and head out with only a vague destination in mind. “We always find someplace interesting,” my mother would say. At the time, there were no cell phones, no internet and no GPS blinking from their dashboard. Occasionally, they would actually get lost, but somehow, they always managed to make it home by Sunday evening.

Fifty years young and fabulous (we couldn’t agree more!), Pack Member Lynne Williams, of Bluffton, SC, loves living near the beach and crushing her miles on the sandy shoreline while taking in the sunrise or sunset. Her walking practice has taught her how walking more is linked to feeling better, so she takes this lesson to heart and is finding herself in much better shape than she imagined, and feeling comfortable and confident in her own skin.

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

We can get really good at tuning things out. The sounds of the garbage truck making their rounds, kids arguing, the leaf blower next door—somehow they can just fade into the background as we keep moving through our day. But when we go for a walk, we have the chance to reconnect with those sounds that we sometimes filter out, and embrace them as fuel for our smile, our steps, and our well-being. Next time you head out the door, listen closely. For there are many things that can connect us with all that is around us. Here are nine of our favorites:

There are so many reasons for lacing up our shoes and heading out for a walk. Though our lives, our challenges, our passions and our goals are unique, there is one thing most of us share—the desire to live a happy, healthy life. But what actually encourages us to lace up and go? What have we discovered about ourselves as a result of our walking practice? What keeps us going?

Recently, we asked the 99 Walks Pack “Why do you walk?,” and here are just some of their answers.

You may know him as “Hey Eric” from The Weekly Walk podcast, or the voice encouraging you in your Journey walking classes, but here are 9 things you may not know about Coach Eric.

Just a few months from now, the days will become shorter. The schedule busier. And our surroundings more muted. These are the days where we yearn for the warmth of the sun, relaxing days with family and friends, and the time to slow down and live in the moment.

Embracing a life of partial retirement, Pack Member Sue Campbell, age 65, has stepped away from 28 years of teaching middle school science and is enjoying her newfound time to walk more by herself, allowing her mind to move to where it needs to be. As a teacher who’s always made her students the priority, she’s using her walking practice as a way to put herself and her health first, providing a centering or anchoring time for her.

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

Here at 99 Walks, we want everyone to show up and be celebrated in their truest form, so much so that we made celebrating diversity a pillar of the company from the start, incorporating it into our core values. During Pride Month, we took a closer look at the values that guide us and found five that embrace the LGBTQ+ community, as we embrace and love all those that make up our colorful world.

The ability to walk upright is a uniquely human characteristic. Many experts credit this ability as the critical attribute that has driven our development and innovation as a species. So it’s no wonder that we use walking expressions—or idioms—pretty much all the time.

It’s easy to get caught up on a number. An often unrealistic measurement that you tell yourself you need to reach in order to show progress toward a weight loss goal. But it’s time to put that marker aside, and focus on other—often more valuable—signs of change. As you build your intentional walking practice, whether for exercise, mental health, or weight loss, consider the following nine non-scale victories that we think are pretty awesome, and definitely worth a little happy dance.

It sometimes feels like we are constantly being told what to be.

• Be happy.

• Be beautiful.

• Be polite.

• Be courageous.

• Be quiet.

• Be grateful.

• Be kind.

Embracing the stage in life where her kids are mostly grown, Pack Member Nina Mefford, age 50, is making her way back to some “me time” and pursuing her hobbies. And that includes taking the time to walk, with a 99 Walks coach in her ear cheering her on, and helping her remember that she is worth spending time for herself. She’s kicking aside the mentality of doing something only because it’s “good for her,” which was only accompanied by a bad attitude toward exercise, low self esteem and boredom, and sinking into the help and encouragement of a team that will walk with her on her journey to better health and wellness.

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