Community story
James — Finding Somewhere to Breathe on a Wednesday
A Walk & Talk member shares what changed in the first six months of turning up to a weekly coastal walk.
James, MENd member (shared with consent) · 4 min read
The first Wednesday I turned up to the Walk & Talk, I didn't want to be there. I'd told my partner I was going. I couldn't back out. I sat in the car for ten minutes and nearly drove home twice.
I walked at the back of the group. I didn't say much. Someone — I don't remember his name now — said "good to see you, glad you came" at the end, and that was pretty much it.
I went back the next Wednesday. And the next. Somewhere around week six, I started saying more. Somewhere around month four, I realised I'd started looking forward to Wednesdays.
What changed wasn't dramatic. I didn't have a breakthrough. I just started sleeping a bit better. My kids noticed I was less snappy. My partner said I seemed lighter.
What the Walk & Talk gave me was somewhere to breathe on a Wednesday. That turned out to be the thing I'd been missing for years.
If you're reading this and thinking about coming to one — come. Sit in the car for ten minutes if you need to. Walk at the back. You don't have to say anything. Just be there.
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MENd Together runs free and low-cost groups every week — trauma-informed, safeguarded, and open to any man. You don't need a referral. You don't need to say anything you don't want to say.