Today is World Sauntering Day

World Sauntering Day: A day to saunter here and there, wherever you go.  Sauntering is a form of strolling.  Take this day to slow down the pace and enjoy your life.

I am reminded by the folks over at Freakonomics (thanks Melissa Lafsky) that today is World Sauntering Day.

Yes, it’s one of those freaky (no pun intended) American holidays that originated in the 1970s when W.T. Rabe, a one-time publicist in Detroit, a director of public relations at Lake Superior State University, and manager of a hotel in Mackinac Island, Michigan, created a publicity stunt to encourage visitors and resident of the island to saunter, and to enjoy the beauty around them. If you’ve ever been to Mackinac Island, you can see why Rabe’s campaign was so successful.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

So exactly what is World Sauntering Day? According to HolidayInsights.com:

“World Sauntering Day is a day to saunter here and there, wherever you go.

You can spend your life walking through life, jogging through life, or being dragged through life. But, life is far more enjoyable, if you saunter through it. Its doubly true if you saunter with a friend or loved one.

Sauntering is not a walk, jog, trot, or run. Sauntering is a form of strolling. Sauntering is a very casual, yet stylish, form of movement from point A to Point B. The dictionary defines sauntering as walking along slowly, happily and aimlessly. Now, doesn’t this sound like a grand way to get around?

On World Sauntering Day, practice your sauntering technique. Saunter everywhere you go.”

Now, in this fast-paced world, taking time to stroll around may fall on some deaf ears. “Slow” has a negative connotation to it, whereas “fast” implies good, progressive, fun, and “with it.”

Nevertheless, it is a great suggestion, especially coupled some reflection and engagement in one’s own thoughts. Or, as the etymology of the word ’saunter’ suggests: To muse.

“What I mean by the Muse is that unimpeded clearness of the intuitive powers, which a perfectly truthful adherence to every admonition of the higher instincts would bring to a finely organized human being…. Should these faculties have free play, I believe they will open new, deeper and purer sources of joyous inspiration than have yet refreshed the earth.” ~ Margaret Fuller

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