Why These Walks Matter More Than I Expected

I didn’t start the MINTFit walks with a big plan — just a desire to move more, spend time outside, and create space for connection without pressure or performance.

At first, it was simply a walk.

But over time, something shifted.

The same women kept showing up.
We stayed in touch.
We invited friends.
We found an easy rhythm — checking the weather, picking a time, and just going.

Now we have a group chat. We coordinate walks when it works. We laugh mid-walk. We move our bodies while catching up on life. It feels natural. Unforced.

And somewhere along the way, I realized:

This was the community I didn’t know I was missing.

Not loud.
Not performative.
Not centered on comparison or competition.

Just women showing up — as they are.

A Saturday Night Outside

This past weekend, that looked like a nighttime snowshoe.

Saturday night.
Headlamps on.
Snow crunching under boots.

Instead of being inside — when winter evenings usually pull us toward the couch — we layered up and went out. We walked, talked, laughed, and moved through the cold together.

It wasn’t about pace or distance.
It wasn’t about pushing limits.

It was about being outside, together, doing something that felt good.

Since then, I’ve had a few women reach out asking when the next walk is. They want that feeling too — movement, connection, and something to look forward to in the middle of winter.

We’ll be doing it again.

Why This Works (Without Making It Complicated)

What I’ve learned is that these walks work because they remove so many common barriers women face with fitness and consistency.

There’s no pressure to be fast.
No expectation to look a certain way.
No commitment beyond showing up.

You move.
You talk.
You breathe fresh air.

And somehow, that’s enough.

For many busy women, especially in the winter months, simple outdoor movement combined with connection is what makes consistency — and joy — feel possible again.

What I’m Choosing More Of

Lately, I’ve been more intentional about where I invest my energy.

Not every space supports growth.
Not every environment feels grounding.

Building something smaller, quieter, and rooted in real connection has made a bigger difference in my physical and mental health than I expected.

If nothing else, here’s what I hope this reminds you of:

Movement doesn’t have to be intense to matter.
Community doesn’t have to be loud to be real.
And sometimes the thing you didn’t know you needed is simply showing up — together.