Hey, brain researchers-yeah, you with the lab coats and electrodes. Where are all the studies on how walks benefit relationships? On why taking a stroll together is as great for romance, family ties and friendship as it is for muscles and Reebok sales? My web sleuthing has turned up no such studies. Well, no biggie. Over the years, I’ve developed plenty of my own theories on what makes walking the best thing for human bonding since the smile:

1. Walks benefit relationships by showing you care.

Going to dinner with someone could just mean you’re hungry. A movie? Maybe you’ve got a crush on Angelina Jolie mГёte Mexico damer. But inviting a friend or loved one for a walk shows you really want to spend time with that person. I’ll never forget how, one day in the mid-1980s, my pal Bill offered to walk with me clear across our New Jersey college town so I could buy yarn. He had zero interest in yarn-which is how I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he was interested in me. (Yes, he’s the Bill I’m now married to.)

2. Walking is easy.

Unlike playing a sport, there’s no equipment (except sneakers) necessary, no score to keep track of, no court time or tee time to reserve. Unlike meeting for lunch, there are no menus to study or waiters to track down. You can walk often and at the spur of the moment-and if you’re like my friends and me, you’ll pick a route with so few street crossings you could practically do it blindfolded. Except for the occasional need to move around anything in your way, you’ll be free to focus on nothing but each other.

3. Walks benefit relationships by loosening tongues.

Most of my best gabfests with my father and brother have been during walks. Meandering without my chatty mother, we can’t hang back and let her do the talking as we usually do. Continua a leggere