Start Where You Are – Why I Want to Begin Walking Groups

Why I decided to start local walking groups — a quiet way to bring people together

When my kids were little, life felt very quiet. My husband was working long hours, and I had no family nearby. I did not know many people in Edinburgh back then, and even though I had my children, it sometimes felt like I was very much on my own.

The thing that saved me was walking. Going out everyday.

Every single day I would put on my boots, dress the kids, and go outside. The weather did not matter — in Scotland there is always rain in the forecast, and if I had waited for a sunny day, I might never have left the house. So I went out anyway, in wellies, in raincoats, with my pushchair.

I always had my pushchair with me. That pushchair gave me the freedom to keep moving. The kids enjoyed it too — we had a double-decker pushchair and it became part of our little adventures.

It was not always easy, but walking gave me something I could hold onto. It was my space, my reset button. Even today, when my kids are now 12 and 14, walking is still the one thing that keeps me balanced. A walk in the woods is my happy place. When my mood is low, walking makes it lighter.

Maybe this is why I now walk every single day. Maybe this is why I want to invite others to walk with me.

Because I know how it feels to be at home, under a low ceiling, with your thoughts pressing down on you. It feels like you have only half a room to move in. But when you step outside, the sky is so high — there is always enough space for you.

And you do not need any special gear to begin. I often walk in jeans and simple walking shoes. At the start, any shoes will do. You do not need to wait until you have the “right” clothes. Just come as you are.

That is why I am starting Quiet Paths: Start Where You Are.

These walks will be for anyone who does not know how to begin, for anyone who feels unsure or stuck, for anyone who just needs a little space over their head. You do not need to be fit, or to know the way. You just need to start where you are.

I want to share my happy place with you. I want you to feel the ground beneath your feet and the freedom of the open sky above you. I want you to know that even a short walk can make a difference.

So this is the beginning. Quiet Paths walks - Start Where You Are . I hope you will join me. Let us do something good for ourselves, together.

Dorota🌿