Writing about my recent visit to San Francisco inspired today’s mini-mission. Usually we walk to get somewhere. We walk to arrive at a destination. We walk to get healthier, or skinnier or faster. What do we miss when we are walking for another purpose?

Like many things, sometimes when you try to make walking productive, you actually miss the walk.

What if you just went for a walk?

Destination-less walking is your mini-mission. Slow down, look around and walk. Schedule a block of time so you aren’t rushed and you can just walk and have time to take in your surroundings; up, down and all around. Notice what may have passed you by on your regular walking route or go somewhere new. Be surprised by what happens around you and inside you. Be aware of what you see, but not consumed by it.

When I was in San Francisco, I found great joy in walking around without a destination. In our day to day routines, we are so consumed with going through the motions, that we often forget to look around. The world continues to move above us, below us and all around us, even if we don’t notice.

For this mini-mission it doesn’t matter if you walk alone or with someone you love. Your speed or lack of it is not important. Walk wearing sneakers or flip flops or no shoes at all. Walk on the road, a trail, the beach or wherever you want. This walk has no rules, no specific distance, and no pressure. This walk is not a competition. This walk is just for you.

For more experiments to simplify your life, read Mini-missions for Simplicity. It’s available on the Amazon Kindle store, but you don’t need a Kindle to read it. Kindle books can also be read using the Free Kindle Reader App for your Web Browser, PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, BlackBerry, or Android.