Almost walking

I have been hoping for a while now that Rachel would start walking because sometimes life would be easier if I didn't have to carry her everywhere. Well she is not walking on her own yet but she is getting close. She can stand up by her self and balance and she will walk if she has something to hold onto. We are practicing with her every day. A lot of people say that once she is walking, we will wish she wasn't. What do you say? Do you encourage walking or not?