By Catholic Partnership Schools Healthy Courier staff | Walking is enjoyable and has health benefits, said several St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral School staff members in interviews.
Walking promotes better sleep, better health, stronger muscles, and even better mood, according to the American Heart Association. Choosing to walk in- stead of driving a car reduces your carbon footprint, says the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
What’s a carbon footprint? “Your carbon footprint is
the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air because of your own energy needs,” according to NASA. For instance, you ride in cars. Cars give off carbon dioxide and other gases, which harms air quality and contributes to climate change, says the EPA.
Mrs. Walsh, the school librarian, said that she loves to walk outside. It gives her exercise and time with her golden retriever, Murphy. He is very sweet and greets people, she said.
Mrs. Walsh said she walks seven days a week, even in the rain and snow. She usually walks up to an hour in her neighborhood.
Mrs. Walsh said walking makes her feel “energetic, peaceful, and appreciative of nature.” After finishing the walk, she said, she likes to return in- doors to a toasty home.
Sometimes, Ms. Walsh is joined on her walks by her daughter and husband.
Mrs. Washart, academic title coordinator, said she also enjoys walking.
“I find it to be very relaxing,” she said. It’s a good way to de-stress after a long day.”
She said she tries to walk about two miles at least three or four times a week. Although she usually walks by herself in the neighborhood, her brother joins her on Wednesdays. Walking makes her feel “energized and relaxed,” she said.
Mr. Orosz, a religion and geography teacher, said he likes to walk “because it relieves stress and improves my mood.”
Mr. Orosz walks with his wife and two dogs, Danny and Jackie. He said he walks every day of the week—at 5 a.m. on weekdays and at 6 or 7 a.m. on weekends. He walks 30 minutes on the weekdays and one hour on the weekends.
Mr. Orosz walks in his neighborhood. “It’s safe, and you can make plenty of friends,” he said.
Illustration by Arely, Stewart M.S.
