Walking Among the Dead: Finding Peace in Fairmount Cemetery

Let's just say it out loud: walking in a cemetery can feel a little weird at first.

Maybe even creepy. There's something about all those headstones, the stillness, the awareness that you're walking among people who lived entire lives—loved, struggled, celebrated, mourned. It can bring up emotions that aren't always easy or comfortable. Grief, mortality, the weight of what it means to be human.

But here's what I discovered on my recent walk through Fairmount Cemetery in Denver: it can also be one of the most beautiful, peaceful, reflective places to walk in the entire city.

A Different Kind of Walk

I showed up on a winter afternoon. It was overcast, calm and the kind of soft gray day that feels like the world is wrapped in quiet. The paths were clear, the roads mostly free from snow and ice.. I put in my headphones, cued up a calming playlist, and started moving.

And almost immediately I felt peaceful. 

There's no traffic to dodge. No cyclists flying past. No need to stay hyper-alert or share the path. Just you, the trees, the headstones, the sky. It's a place that gives you permission to slow down and to just be. A wonderful place to think, to reflect, and to let go.  A place to work through whatever you came there carrying.

Curiosity and History

But here's the thing—walking in a cemetery isn't just about quiet reflection. It's also fascinating. Fairmount is like walking through Colorado's history book. As you wander, you can get curious:

• Who were these people? 

• What did they do? 

• How did they live their lives? 

• What kind of trees are these? 

Fairmount Cemetery is Colorado's largest arboretum, home to hundreds of varieties of trees and roses spread across more than 800 acres. Established in 1890, it's a living museum of both people and plants. You'll find governors buried here, U.S. senators,and  war heroes. You’ll also find local educational pioneer Emily Griffith, philanthropist Helen Bonfils, the Boettcher family, the Brown family and so many others who shaped this state.

You can find a full list of Fairmount's famous inhabitants online if you want to explore further and maybe plan your walk around specific gravesites.

Why Walk in a Cemetery?

If you're looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, a cemetery offers something unique. It's quiet without being isolating and reflective without being heavy.  It's a place with minimal distractions, so whether you're walking for exercise, working through a problem, or simply letting go of stress, you can focus entirely on your walk.

And in winter? When snow and ice make sidewalks treacherous and trails impassable, cemeteries are often your best bet for a clear, safe path.

Yes, it might feel strange at first. Yes, it might bring up big feelings. But that's okay. Sometimes we need places that invite us to sit with those feelings, to honor them, to walk through them, literally. 

An Invitation

So if you're feeling curious, if you need quiet, if you're looking for a winter walk that's both calming and interesting, I encourage you to try Fairmount or any cemetery.  Bring your playlist or walk in silence. Stop to read the headstones or just keep moving. Learn about Colorado history or simply notice the trees.

Walk among the dead and remember what it means to be alive.

For more information on Fairmount check out their website here. 

Have you ever walked in a cemetery? What was your experience like? I'd love to hear about it.

A Fast Paced Walk That Works

Let me ask you something: have you heard about interval walking yet?

If you've been scrolling through social media lately, you've probably seen it popping up everywhere. It's also called Japanese walking, because it was developed by researchers in Japan who were looking for an efficient, low-impact way to build cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles and bones, and boost overall mood. The concept is simple but powerful: a 5-minute warm-up, then alternating 3-minute intervals of fast-paced, intense walking with 3 minutes of slower, calmer walking for at least 30 minutes total, followed by a 5-minute cool-down.

It's accessible, it's effective, and it doesn't require anything more than a good pair of shoes and a way to track your time. Here's a great article  that breaks down the technique if you want to learn more.

As a former runner turned walker, I was intrigued. I love walking for its mindfulness, its gentle rhythm, its invitation to notice and explore. But sometimesI need something different. Sometimes I have pent-up energy that needs releasing, stress that needs sweating out, a workout that gets my heart pounding and my blood moving. Interval walking promised all of that without the impact on my joints that running demands.

So I decided to try it.

Lacing Up with Intention

I laced up my shoes, cued up a killer workout playlist on my phone, popped in my headphones, and headed out the door. My watch was ready to track my time and monitor my intervals. This walk wasn't about soaking in the beauty of my neighborhood or discovering hidden corners of my local park. This walk had one mission: get in a good, heart-pounding workout and release that wild energy buzzing under my skin.

I started with the 5-minute warm-up, easing into it, letting my body wake up and my pace gradually increased. By the time minute six rolled around, I was ready. I queued up a fast-paced song and took off.

The Rhythm of Fast and Slow

Walking quickly along my well-worn path, I could feel my heart rate climb during that first 3-minute interval. My breath quickened. My arms pumped back and forth with intention.  I was working hard, and it felt good. Then came the slow-down—3 minutes at a nice, steady, calm pace. I'll be honest: slowing down isn't always easy for me. But those recovery intervals were exactly what I needed to reset, catch my breath, and prepare for the next round.

I kept up this rhythm for over 45 minutes. There were a few times I went long on the fast portions, mostly because I was so into my music that I lost track of time. But those slower intervals were essential. They gave my body and heart the chance to recover, to catch up, to be ready to push again.

By the end, I was sweaty, energized, and satisfied. This is a workout that delivers.

The Pros

Interval walking is efficient—you get a solid cardiovascular workout in a relatively short amount of time. It's fun, it's energy-releasing, and somehow also energy-boosting. You'll sweat. You'll feel accomplished. And you'll give your heart and muscles exactly what they need.

Things to Consider

Here's what I learned: know your route. Use a trail or path that's familiar, one you could walk with your eyes closed. You don't want to be thinking about where you're going or navigating new terrain. A track or even a treadmill works great for this. You'll be checking your watch a lot, so be prepared to keep somewhat accurate time. This isn't a leisurely stroll where you lose yourself in thought. You need to stay focused.

A good watch or timekeeping tool is essential. And a great workout playlist is non-negotiable. This isn't the walk for a meandering podcast or audiobook. You need music that keeps you motivated and engaged, songs that make you want to move. 

Your Turn

If you're looking for a walking workout that's quick, efficient, and genuinely challenging, interval walking might be exactly what you need. It won't replace those slow, mindful walks where you notice the light filtering through the trees—but it doesn't have to. It's a different tool for a different need.

So lace up. Queue up your playlist. Set your timer. And see what your body can do when you give it permission to push and recover, push and recover, all the way home.

Let me know if you try it—I'd love to hear how it goes.

Experiencing My Neighborhood Park for the First Time (Again)

I’m ready to go!

Sometimes the most profound discoveries happen in our own backyards.

This morning, I laced up my shoes with a simple intention: to walk through Bible Park. It’s the place I've walked dozens, maybe hundreds of times. But today’s mission was different, I really wanted to open my mind and heart to a new way of viewing the park and a new way of enjoying my walk.  I wanted to experience Bible Park not as background scenery on my way to somewhere else, not as a route to clock steps or raise my heart rate, but as a place worth exploring with fresh eyes and all my senses wide open.

I chose trails I don't normally take, the ones that veer slightly off my usual loop. I wasn't chasing a workout. I was chasing beauty, presence, whatever the park wanted to show me if I slowed down enough to notice.

The trees showing off their autumn splendor.

The clear sky stretched overhead in that particular shade of blue that only Colorado can give us.  The trees were lit from within, or at least that's how it looked.  Shades of yellow and gold and orange layered together. Leaves rustling and shaking in a light breeze that moved through the park like calming waves.  The whole place seemed to shimmer with light and energy, bursting with a kind of quiet joy. 

I walked at a moderate pace, letting each of my senses have its own turn. The air was warm and the sun felt hot against my skin, despite it being mid-November. The cool breeze brought relief.  I could hear birds calling to each other, as if they were playing games. There were dogs barking in the distance, and there was a  steady hum of cars passing by on nearby streets. It was the perfect soundtrack of a neighborhood alive and moving freely.

Taking time to cross the creek.

I stopped at the creek, which I normally don’t do, and I just stood there and watched the water meander by. It seemed to be unhurried, taking its time, and slowly making its way down stream. The sound of it was soothing, a gentle whisper beneath all the other sounds. It was calling to me and reminding me to slow down, take a breath, enjoy the unhurried journey. 

A path less traveled

I then took the path less traveled. It’s a dirt path that I usually walk right by because it’s not on my normal route. The path skirts the water and flows through some tall grasses. It was bustling with activity from Rolly Pollys slowly making their way to the next dirt pile, to squirrels scampering up and down the Cotton Wood trees by the banks of the creek.  I took in all the new sights and sounds and noticed that sometimes all it takes is a small deviation to shift my perspective entirely. It was like I was seeing the park for the first time.

This is what I mean when I say walking is more than exercise. This walk was a full-body and full-heart experience. A reminder that beauty isn't something we have to chase down in distant places. Sometimes it's waiting right here, in the park we thought we already knew, asking only that we show up, slow down and pay attention.

Your turn: What familiar place could you explore with fresh eyes? Where might you find beauty hiding in plain sight?

Location: Bible Park  6600 E. Yale Ave.  Denver, CO  

Walking for Wellness

Welcome to the Journey

There's something quietly radical about putting one foot in front of the other. Walking is perhaps the most democratic form of movement we have—it requires no equipment, no membership, no special skills. Just you, your body, and the ground beneath your feet.

This blog exists because walking is so much more than exercise, though it's certainly that too. It's a tool for exploration, both outward and inward. When we walk, we open ourselves to the world around us: the way afternoon light catches on a storefront window, the sound of leaves underfoot, the unexpected garden tucked behind a familiar street. We become observers again, noticing details that our hurried, driving, scrolling lives usually blur past.

But walking also turns us inward. It clears the mental clutter while somehow organizing our thoughts. Ideas surface on walks that never appeared at desks. Problems untangle themselves. The rhythm of our steps creates space for our minds to wander and wonder. It's a moving meditation, a check-in with both body and mind—how are my shoulders? Where is my breath? What am I carrying today?

Walking can be solitary or social, contemplative or conversational. It can be how we work through what troubles us or how we connect with the people we love. It's exercise and therapy and adventure, often all at once.

Here, I'll share the walks that have shaped me, the hidden corners and beloved paths of Denver and the surrounding areas. But this is more than a guide to special spots—it's an invitation to pay attention, to feel, to turn inward even as we move outward. This is a space for wellness that doesn't require perfection, for courage that starts with a single step, for the simple, profound act of moving through the world with awareness.

So lace up your shoes, or don't. Start where you are. Let's walk together.