I can relate. I used to walk a ton when I lived in the city because that’s just how you get around and I was always going to fun places when I was childfree.
Now I live in the burbs (not surrounded by bears lol) where the only place I can walk to is a hiking trail. I have to make the time for it. I found that by switching from one long walk before lunch to 3 short walks a day after meals, I was getting in more steps and had lower blood sugars which slowed my pregnancy weight gain. And it feels a lot easier because each walk is less of a time commitment and I get less sweaty.
It sounds like you have anxiety, and I think if you spend them in nature it’ll improve. After a rape on the trail I use, I bought pepper spray and felt safer. You can buy bear spray if that’ll make you feel better. But it really isn’t necessary for black bears. Attacks by them are extremely rare. 90% of the time it’ll be running away from you before you even notice it. If it doesn’t move, slowly back away without turning your back. Running can trigger their chase instinct so don’t do that. As you can see I had my own bear anxiety at one point which sucked because I was an avid hiker and encountered them often in Shenandoah. My anxiety got reduced after reading a lot about them and having several safe bear encounters- including one with a mama bear and her cubs.
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