Do you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed by what life throws at you? Have you ever come across a time when you need to unwind and seek help to somehow find yourself? One of the most effective ways for both is to reconnect with nature. That is exactly what this woman is doing. However, compared to those who are doing soul-searching, she walks thousands of miles all across America.

This Maine woman decided to take a nice long break from all the hustle and bustle of life and went for a walk. But she did not stop after a couple of miles. Instead, like Forrest Gump, Margaret Carrie just kept walking!

And now, she is making the headlines as she is on a mission to travel across the entire country on foot.

In an interview with CBS Boston, Margeret talked about her travels. When she was asked what inspired her to do this 3200-mile journey, she said, “I’m hoping to kind of find a better connection with people in general. But also… This might sound hokey, but really with myself as well.”

She adds that she’s very busy with her professional life back home. This journey she believes is giving her a chance to “reconnect with the outdoors, with my own mind, my own body… All of that good stuff.” She also says that ever since she’s always loved long-distance walking. In fact, she couldn’t stop thinking about walking across the country and the possibilities of whether or not she could do it.

So finally, she decided to take a break from life in general and started this journey…

She’s averaging about 15 miles a day and she makes sure that she is documenting her travels on her Instagram page @MargaretAcrossAmerica. She is hoping that she will reach San Francisco sometime in October.

Again, Margaret says that she’s not doing it for any major cause or to gain attention instead, she simply wants to reconnect with herself and with nature.

According to experts, walking can help relieve stress. It gives you time to think, as well as time to get away from stressors. If you take the chance to get out of the stressful environment, breathe the air, and feel your body move, it becomes your natural stress-reliever.

Walking and other forms of exercise cause the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural happy hormones. Walkers who walk at a quick walking rhythm in order to elevate their heart rate will notice this effect more than those who walk at a slower walking pace. Still, even while moving at a slower pace, you will notice an improvement in your mood.

Walking can be used in the same way as yoga – to clear the mind and bring yourself into the present. You can re-establish a connection between your mind and body, and immerse yourself in the perfect expression of rhythm, breathing, and movement.

As reported in 2018, even a brief round of walking lasting only ten minutes would be enough to boost your mood when compared to doing nothing at all. Researchers also discovered that a little time of meditation had the same effect as a longer session. And while you’re at it, know that walking in a natural environment, according to research released in 2015, reduces depression and anxiety.