TEDxDubai 2011 | Hala Kazim | Let's Twalk
so what is the simplest thing we do every morning walk simp steps it takes us anywhere to any direction we want walking is like breathing it's a part of Being Human you get up in the morning you walk to brush your teeth you walk to have breakfast you walk to go to your car some steps are small some large walking has changed my life how come something so small so simple change life my life began and transformed when I began to think of walking than more just a way of going through my day it was This Magic Moment this like lightning rod that changed my world view I started walking and hiking in different countries by myself scary in the beginning and it began with that and it continuously beginning as we never stopped walking walking took me away from the hustle and bustle of daily activities it was the connection between my mental health and physical wellbeing let me give you some numbers at 48 two marriages five great children my first when I was 18 my last when I was 41 and wonderful one wonderful grandson woman has so many responsibilities and roles I'm sure all the women agree with me we are she's a mother she's a sister she's a wife she's a daughter she's a friend and she's a grandmother it is so difficult sometimes to detach from all the responsibilities and the challenges and the pressure we women face the role that we plays sometimes is so difficult has so many expectation that we lose our identity but walking relieves that pressure and it allows you to get stronger in order to face all your responsibilities talking and walking Pro to be powerful combination it's almost like two friends walking together and sharing a problem I realized the combination improves self-awareness and confidence so talking walking talking we all know the scientific benefits of walking don't we we all know your blood pressure goes low your heart rate goes High the oxygen pours into your body your senses and mind gets sharper but the best part especially for women we lose weight I found peace and healing in being able to share my inspiration experiences and challenges in a safe environment with like-minded people so what did I do I started taking imarati women talking with me I wanted them to feel what I felt the Li ation the achievement and the sense of accomplishment that only physical challenges can give you just fresh air tall mountains and clear sky and conquering the unknown I noticed that we're not used to our woman or in this region we're not used to explore some do of course but not all you see UAE or in our country is basically basically a desert and it's hot sometimes so people are not used to go hiking so we dress to please dress to shop dress to party but we rarely dress to go hiking we're just not used to wearing hiking boots and rock sacks so I started thinking of my feet and how to use it in a better way the tools to discover the world were attached at the end of my legs and I didn't even know it my feet so people ask me you have done so many Journeys so many trips what did you learn well I learned that it's okay to be afraid I've learned I can be hara's friend I've learned Independence resourcefulness and I've learned regardless of your color your religion your nationality we're all the same and love and kindness are the language of the world these Journeys taught us we can overcome any challenges literally by walking from Hill to Hill River to River F to AAR not only did we over come the physical part but our mind mind was given and able to go and expand their mind and and expand their minds and beginning to heal emotionally and spiritually so one of my steps equals 1 meter 1 kilom equals 1,000 steps I walked and we walked and walked sometimes we took 18,000 steps sometimes more sometimes less we walked in Austria in Switzerland in Spain in P in France hundreds of thousands thousands and then millions of steps each building upon other so how did talking help these women some women came to overcome G their grieve some looking for answers others to explore I saw the transformation before my eyes they became more confident more positive and more outgoing these women wanted to come out of their comfort zone and they broke boundaries and they all all wanted to move forward we can take some steps backwards but always had to go step forward it's like the mental and physical well-being so oh God if I didn't go forward I wouldn't reach my Lodge I wouldn't eat nor I sleep likewise the mental wellbeing in spite of all the difficulties and pain we feel we have to move forward to get better so go forward face your challenges expand your mental awareness share your problems and go talking with someone and enjoy journey through change