On Monday morning, Lewis County will take a step forward — literally.
At 9:30 a.m. a new public walking group will kick off weekly public group strolls through Centralia. The walk is open to all people and all ages. Kids in strollers are welcome. All speeds will be accommodated. The first walk will be about a mile and a half through the town at an easy pace.
These weekly walks are envisioned as healthy excursions for both the body and people’s innate need to be social and connect.
This is one of the first public projects by Blue Zones Activate Lewis County, which held a kick-off event last last month.
“The world’s longest-lived people don’t pump iron, run marathons, or join gyms,” the Blue Zones website notes. “Instead, they live in environments that constantly nudge them into moving without thinking about it. They grow gardens and don’t have mechanical conveniences for house and yard work. They have jobs that require them to move or get up frequently. And they walk every single day. Almost everywhere.”
While walking isn’t an earth-shattering idea, creating an intentional time and place with the chance to be physically active and socially engaged actually does make a big difference in a person’s life. And if we have enough of these kinds of opportunities, it can change our overall collective health, too.
That’s the goal of the Blue Zones idea, which looks at a handful of places around the world where high numbers of people live to be 100 years old and stay in good health into old age. What do they know that we don’t? That led to articles in National Geographic and a 2023 Netflix series, “Live to be 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones.”
It turns out there are nine common practices and habits that tend to lead to longer, healthier lives. Walking is one of them. So is being social.
Centralia’s new walking group brings those two healthy habits together.
After it gets going, the hope is to expand to other towns and communities across Lewis County.
“At our kick-off event, we had community member suggestions for walking groups in Adna, Morton, Winlock, Toledo, Chehalis and Napavine,” said Shawna Herriford, the local Blue Zones coordinator. “Absolutely hope to grow to these areas in the future.”
If you’d like to be part of a walking group in your neighborhood, contact Herriford at shawna@bluezones.com, or show up at one of the weekly meetings in Centralia. You might just find a few like-minded people who live near you.
I anticipate groups naturally splitting off to find their own times and places for walking together. It really only takes two people with a common pace and interests.
“We are so excited to connect with our community members and get some movement in,” Herriford said. “All are welcome and encouraged to join. There is no membership fee. It is a free way to get out and move a little while getting to know others in your community!”
The weekly Blue Zones walk begins at the Blue Zones Activate office (115 W. Maple Street, Centralia) at 9:30 a.m.
If you’re available, I encourage you to take a step in the right direction to join in. If you’re working or busy at that time, keep an eye on the local Blue Zones effort for an upcoming walk in your community.
Or better yet, start walking yourself at least a few times a week with a family member, neighbor or acquaintance. The journey to a healthier, happier future begins with a single step. And like most things in life, it’s better with a friend.
Dad joke of the week
Did you hear about the international pop star who had to get new attire in a hurry?
Taylor Swift needed a swift tailor.
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Brian Mittge’s column appears in The Chronicle on Saturdays. He can be reached at brianmittge@hotmail.com.
