You probably have many different versions of “Taking a Walk.” So do I. Some of them are things I do with friends. Some are found in moments of contemplative solitude. Some involve exercise (which is just as important to mental health as it is to physical health). Some are stationary (it’s hard to re-read Fellowship of the Ring while jogging).

      I spend time in nature – away from my work desk where I do Pro-Life advocacy. I spend time at home – still away from my work desk where I do Pro-Life advocacy.

      Why do I bring this up? Because there’s more to me than Pro-Life advocacy, and that actually helps me be a better advocate. 

      If all I ever do, day in and day out, is eat, sleep, and breath Pro-Life advocacy, then I’m going to burn out quick. More than that, I’m not going to be able to reach other people because I will be weird to them. It’s hard to make connections without common ground and varied experience.

      On the other hand, if there’s more to me than this one thing – even though it’s a monumentally important thing – then I can build healthy relationships which, in turn, support and help me in all aspects of my life, including advocacy.

      Chilling with friends and playing Minecraft helps me sit down at my desk the next day. Pondering the beauty of God’s creation on a nature walk helps me de-tox from politics. Having Lord of the Rings semi-memorized helps me talk to my nerdy friends in a way that subtly influences them to think critically about the importance of consistent ethics regarding human dignity.

      I know it can be hard to make yourself take breaks. The fight can seem overwhelming, and there can be an immense pressure to just “power through.” But if you want to be in good shape to advocate for life, you and I and everyone else in this movement need to be conscious of the importance of living full, healthy, and balanced lives.

      Sometimes, we all just need to take a walk.

      Two of these links are from Pro-Life organizations. The first is one of ours on how humor can be, among other things, a way to deal with the stress of advocacy. The second is from the Equal Rights Institute on the topic of work/life balance in general.

      The third video isn’t directly Pro-Life, but it’s still topical (and inspiring). Army veteran Omar “Crispy” Avila survived having 75% of his body burned in combat. Now, he’s a motivational speaker, an avid outdoorsman, and all-around interesting human being.

      Enjoy.