Herald columnist and Radio Hauraki breakfast host Matt Heath has a new role as Happiness Editor for our Great Minds mental health project.
"Hey man, what are you up to? Feel like going for a walk with me?" Many Kiwis would feel uncomfortable sending that text to a friend. We find it much easier asking a buddy out for a beer than a stroll. I'm not talking about walks that need Macpacs and DoC huts. This is simply a friend asking another if they're interested in taking a walk. Nothing major.
For some reason, it feels forward suggesting a wholesome activity. With a beer, you can pretend it's about the drink and not the person. You can hide behind the emotional protection that you could just be after a lager and aren't necessarily saying you like and want to spend time with that particular friend. A walk request takes friendships into new territory. We worry it might be misconstrued.
I'm attempting to get over these anti-stroll sentiments. A walk with a friend is free, and healthy and you don't end up dangerously steamed on K Road eight hours later. Once you are on it, a walk is less awkward than meeting at a bar. You have nature to look at and not just your friend's face across a table. When you meet for a drink you fill the awkward pauses with booze, vaping and checking your phone. On a stroll, you can let the conversation flow at its natural pace.
A friend of mine asked another friend on a walk a few weeks back. I grilled both sides separately about the request to get to the truth. They're both named Tim and host a weekend ZB radio show together. I asked Tim if it was awkward asking Tim out on a walk? He replied: "A little".