Emma Knight

Why I’ll Never Stop Walking

Walking has become one of the most important parts of my day. Nearly every morning, you’ll find me out with my dog, Digby. It’s our time together, time I treasure and won’t give up for anything.

Digby has been my walking buddy for 12 years now. As he grows older, I find myself cherishing each step even more, especially on our favourite tracks around Lambton and through Jesmond Bushland. There’s something magical about walking among the trees, listening to the birds, and every now and then spotting wallabies or kangaroos. It reminds me that nature has a way of restoring the soul.

But walking isn’t just about fitness or fresh air, it’s also about community. Over the years, I’ve met wonderful people who have become a part of my walking routine. Julie, for example, is one of my dearest friends and is also my walking companion. She’s 20 years older than me, but she keeps up with ease, walking 4–5km most mornings with her little Frug (French Bulldog x Pug), Magoo.

Together, we’ve formed a little walking family. Each day brings familiar faces: Stan and Gus, always up for a cheerful hello; the man with the ball-obsessed kelpie, whose name I’ve never learned but whose smile I always recognise; Gary and Julia, who never miss a chance to give Digby and Magoo a pat; and the twin sisters, whose dog and Magoo share a comical love-hate friendship. These small daily encounters may seem ordinary, but they’ve become the threads that quietly weave my sense of belonging.

Walking has shown me that movement is about so much more than keeping the body fit. It keeps the mind healthy, too. On the rare days I miss my walk, I feel it mentally far more than physically. That morning rhythm grounds me, clears my thoughts, and sets me up for the day.

So yes, I’ll keep walking. For Digby. For my community. For my health. And most of all, for me. I will never stop.