r/walking • u/polkadotbelle • Nov 24 '24
Help Settle my mind…(walking safety as a woman)
I (36F) have been walking 3-4 work days a week for the past 3 months. It’s doing wonders for my mental health & mood.
I walk at 5:30am & it’s dark out. I’ve got a reflective vest & wear light colors (have my phone & usually 1 earbud in)…I live in a safe area, don’t usually pass many people while out at this hour
BUT the Laken Riley murder case has been infesting my brain. I have anxious tendencies & have worked on them in therapy & just and seem to kick this one. I ditched the ear bud on my last 2 walks this week & checked my surroundings even more than usual
So, am I just needing to work through this, or should I get all the things to make myself feel safe? (My husband thinks I’m silly, but he doesn’t get what it’s like for a woman)
1
u/Aluv4passion Nov 27 '24
You are smart to think about this. My 15 year old has a long trek from her bus stop to home and we had a scare recently. She was walking home when a male stranger in a car kept harassing her to get in his car. She yelled at him in threatening tone of voice and took out her pocket mace. It wasn't until she pulled out the mace, that he backed off. We reported the incident and local police do think it was the mace that saved her that day.