"Every walk is a sort of crusade," wrote Henry David Thoreau. "We should go forth on the shortest walk, perchance, in the spirit of undying adventure, never to return, prepared to send back our embalmed hearts only as relics to our desolate kingdoms."

Thoreau’s reverie on ambulation comes to mind as we introduce the first installment of "Get Well Soon," a health column by Dr. Marnie Hartman. One of Hartman’s themes is that improved health can come from making minor changes, starting with small actions – like taking walks.

Two local initiatives also may get residents walking. Safe Routes to School, a federal program joined by the Haines Borough, aims to improve student health by encouraging walking and bike-riding to school. As a practice, walking to school lost ground as the number of cars in our society – and our waistlines -- expanded.

The new downtown improvement plan also calls for more walkways in the town core and for concentration of parking, which ultimately may require us to walk a little farther while shopping around Main Street.

These are steps in the right direction.

Walks circulate blood, burn calories and aid sleep. They also tend to clear our heads of worry and improve our moods. Don’t believe it? Take a walk and see.

-- Tom Morphet