Last month, my two best friends and I met up for a girl’s trip. It’s something we try to do once a year to stay connected, but because each of us live in different states, it takes a bit of coordination. This particular trip, however, was the first chance all three of us have been able to be together since before the pandemic. For some friendships, this may conjure up worries of awkwardness. For best friends, we picked up right where we left off.

My favorite memory from our trip, though there were many incredible moments, was when we decided to walk to our dinner destination from where we had been shopping downtown. A quick glance at Google Maps told us it was six minutes away, so we started walking and chatting. And walking and laughing. And walking and, um, scratching our heads in wonderment of when we’d reach our destination.

The time of our dinner reservation came and went, so we re-checked our progress and discovered a key detail that we missed. You see, it appears that our trusty map app was quoting us in driving time, not walking. So six minutes was more like 40 when it came to our sandal-clad feet.

But, walking with my best friends — and being in tears laughing at our folly — is something that I will always cherish. It helped our bond become even stronger. We were able to catch up on so many things that we miss living so far apart. And it helped us remember why our decades-long friendship has stood the test of time.

Since we live so far apart, walking is something that we can continue to do to stay connected. Through the happy times. Through our struggles. Through the times we just need to vent, or get some advice. We hop on a phone and start walking and talking. As 99 Walks Pack Leader Joyce Shulman reminds us in her TEDx Talk, How More Walking Leads to Less Loneliness, women who regularly walk with their friends are 2.5 times less likely to often feel lonely.

Now, I realize I am fortunate to have two best friends that I have known for practically my entire life, but having moved around the country, walking with new friends has also been a lifeline for me. Not only is walking with others meditative, but the increased oxygen and blood flow helps you communicate more clearly and listen more carefully. Plus, humans are social beings and enjoy experiences more when we share them. Not to mention those 30-second breaks in communication, well, are a little less awkward when you’re walking.

So, whether you have a bestie you can walk with, either shoulder to shoulder or over the phone, or you’re reaching out to someone you just met, take a walk together. Who knows, that walk with that new friend? Well, you might have just made a new best friend.