Some random thoughts can be harmful to our well-being.

Sometimes we worry about our health, our relationships, whether we can pay this or that bill when it falls due or, worse when it's already overdue. 

I believe that worry is spurious. The dictionary definition of spurious is 'plausible but false' or 'intended to deceive'. We can't deal with some of the things that we worry about until they happen. And, if we're really honest, how often do the things we worry about actually come true? How many of us keep a written record of what we worry about today for the sole purpose of finding out whether, or not, it happens tomorrow! How stupid would that be? If we did, we might laugh ruefully at the amount of time we've wasted in pointless thoughts.

So why do we allow our thoughts to dwell on things that might never happen?

It is possible to go out for a walk and take control of your thoughts. Unfortunately, it's equally easy to go out for a walk to give yourself some 'me' time to focus on all the worries, when you have time to give them some serious consideration! It's about choice.

I appreciate that my daily walk takes me to quiet places where nature is my best companion. I really value walking alone where the busy world doesn't intrude on my thoughts. Now here's a possibility ...

Take the tuis. They're just about everywhere at the moment, frantically busy in the kowhai trees as they feast on the leaves and flowers, chasing each other around. Numerous yellow petals are falling to the ground, making a somewhat slippery carpet. Their songs are often quite deafening and they don't stay still for more than a few moments. We can just look at them, or we can think about what they're doing. How many leaves and petals do they need to eat to survive? When they nest, do they do it together? What time do they get up in the morning and go to bed at night? When they've finished demolishing the kowhai leaves and flowers, what do they move on to? Will they remain in the same area or will they, and their wonderful songs, move out of earshot?

Or what thoughts could go through our minds as we look out onto the water to watch a young waka ama team in a long fibreglass waka, practising their skills? What are the tutors teaching? Is it teamwork and safety as well as paddling technique? Or do these youngsters also learn about their local identity and tradition? Does anyone ever fall in? How easy is it to rescue someone who has gone overboard?

And what do we think when we see a dog? Is it happy? Is it having fun? How many times has it been in the Inlet this morning? What will the owner's car look like when they both get home? Wet? Sandy? Will it find another dog to play with or will it prefer to chase balls into the water? Where else does it go for a walk and what does it do at home when it isn't out walking? Is it a good dog or does it bark and make the neighbours mad?

And what is this little family thinking? Can they see things under the water? Does the toddler want to paddle? Does the young boy want to throw pebbles and watch them skim across the surface of the water? Has his father taught him how to do that yet? Is Mum thinking about all the things she's got to do when she gets home or is she just loving the moment with two very motivated and relaxed little people?

Any or all of these thoughts would squeeze the negative worry-thoughts out of our heads. And, while we're thinking and wondering, the sun is shining its warmth down on us, the gentle breeze or the light rain is reminding us that we're outside. We're so lucky to be free, and mobile, and able to enjoy the moment. 

And we can choose not to have had a single worry thought for the whole of the time we've been out on our walk. It's our thoughts that count and we have choices.