Health is the greatest asset a person possesses. It is an important gift given to us by nature. Health is precious and everyone must look after it carefully. Diseases are the worst enemies of good health. Doing exercise is one of the ways to prevent us from having diseases. There are pleasures in walking, which none but pedestrians know. ?To any person who has all his senses about him a quiet walk along not more than ten or twelve miles of a road a day is the most amusing of all travellings,? says Ruskin.

Walking leads to exercise of the body and fills the lungs with fresh air. Both are conducive to health. Walking gives a splendid opportunity to come in contact with a variety of people, converse with them and thus understand the widely differing nature of men?s thoughts, realize their shortcomings and help to evolve a feeling of fellowship.

A morning walk is very beneficial for a long and healthy life. It is extremely refreshing. It is beneficial not only for the body but also for the mind. It invigorates our body and prepares us to bear the brunt of the day?s work. In the morning, everything is fresh and free from pollution. Young men walk briskly and old men keep an easy pace. With them, time is no consideration. Rather they kill two birds with one stone ? a long walk induces proper circulation of blood and helps to while away time. The crisp morning air has a tonic invigorating quality. It is fragrant with blossoming flowers, cool with the overnight dew-fall. It is equally pleasing in winter, when the air has a sharp bite in it. It is enjoyable before sunrise in summer and after sunrise in winter.

Those who go for a morning walk love mostly the chirping of birds. The melodious chirping is enchanting. They seem to welcome the sun with their sweet notes. People forget the hustle and bustle of daily life and escape from worries temporarily. They feel a new strength being injected into their otherwise tired body. A walker enjoys the natural scenery, the music of birds, and the lovely play of colour from the blue sky above to the green earth beneath. A poet loves to ramble alone so that his enjoyment may not be disturbed by the comments of the unpoetical.

Walking in the morning is a very good habit even when someone feels lazy about getting out of bed. Morning walkers sometimes take their dogs for a walk too. Young and old people who go for a morning walk sometimes do exercises and sometimes sit quietly under a tree, relaxing.

<B>Kelvin BUCKTOWAR</B>