Is there a simpler pleasure than ‘the noble art’ of going for a walk? You need no special equipment, no plan or goal to go for a stroll.
I’m not talking about a jog or a power walk – I mean a saunter; a luxurious, languid wander. Sometimes you might have a destination, sometimes you don’t. You might be walking in the woods, or pounding the concrete in the beating heart of the city. Either way, it’s the walk that’s important.
I love to walk. If I had a choice I’d walk everywhere. Well, perhaps not to France, I’d probably drown. Let’s just say I’d walk everywhere that’s humanly practicable. I’ll set the alarm extra early, just so I can walk to an appointment rather than train or cab it. I walk in rain, in snow, in sticky hot heat.
Everything is within walking distance if you have the time.
Comedian and writer Steven Wright apparently said this. It gets to the crux of why walking is such a pleasure. For most of us time is a luxury, a commodity in high demand, and walking says loud and clear ‘I have time!’ (Or perhaps more accurately ‘I will make time, damn it!’).
Walking slows you down (even if you’re a fast walker, like me). It makes you pay attention to the journey, the little things along the way.
Like nothing else, walking puts you in touch with your surroundings. It’s one of those rare acts that lets your mind wander freely whilst still connecting you to the outside world. While you mull over whatever it is that you mull over while you walk, you’re at once aware and not aware of all the sights and sounds and smells around you.
The other thing I’ve found is that you can’t stay angry while you walk (and if you think you can, you haven’t walked for long enough). Try walking when you’re angry and you’ll find that the world has a way of intruding in on you to say ‘hey, snap out of it buddy’.
The other day I was walking away from some scene that made me feel like I was an awkward teenage clown again* and as I was cursing those involved for making me feel like a fool, an elderly Korean man came up to me and said with a big smile ‘Welcome to Korea! Have fun! Good luck!’ Who can be angry or upset when there is such warmth and happiness as that in the world?
You might see two birds tending each other or a moment between father and son that melts your heart. You might nearly get run over by a crazed cyclist, or do that funny dance with a stranger as you take turns stepping out of each others way. You might see someone who in an instant makes you grateful for your mental and physical health, your friends and family, the roof over your head. Or you might just see a guy in a dog costume, doing disco moves. (All true stories, by the way.)
I think The Oatmeal summed up the civilising effect of walking quite nicely, in this hilarious cartoon (which comes with a language and taste warning – please don’t click over if you are offended by that kind of thing!).
For me, walking is like a cup of chamomile tea and a jolt of espresso in one. It calms and soothes and frees my mind. But it also heightens my senses and lets inspiration flood in. And I mean flood in. My best blog posts, my craziest craft ideas, my solutions to intractable life problems? All conceived whilst going for a stroll!
So – grab your camera if you’re that way inclined (but leave you iPod behind please), make the time and just head out the door. See what the world has to show you.
*Note: I wasn’t actually a clown in my youth. I just felt like one for a large part of the time.
Is walking one of your Simple Pleasures?
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Guest post by Emily Orpin
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I couldn’t agree more Emily! I love going for walks. To clear my mind at the end of the day, to get my mind going in the mornings, or to get out and simply enjoy my surroundings. There is no better simple pleasure! 🙂
So true – nothings clears my mind like going for a walk! Â I think I’d fall apart if I didn’t get the daily opportunity 🙂
I loved reading this, Emily. You really have captured the modern theory of “walk-intention”. Once upon a time we *would* have walked everywhere. Now, we must intend to do it. And it’s so good when we can.Â
Thanks so much Sally! Â I hadn’t looked at it from that perspective but you’re right – it makes the intention part of it that much more relevant. Â I’ll have to investigate this ‘walk-intention’ theory a bit more I think!
Well, I did make it up, just a little bit, on the spot. Let’s all do some ‘research’, shall we? 😉
I love this Emily. I have always been a runner but recently discovered the pleasures of walking and for my you summed them up quite nicely here:
“For me, walking is like a cup of chamomile tea and a jolt of espresso in one. It calms and soothes and frees my mind. But it also heightens my senses and lets inspiration flood in. And I mean flood in. My best blog posts …my solutions to intractable life problems? All conceived whilst going for a stroll!”
Thanks Kelly! Â I’ve gone through phases of running and jogging at various times over the past decade or so, but nothing seems to stick with me (or have the same simple pleasure) as walking does. (But then maybe I’m just lazy!!!)
Emily! What a fantastic post! I love walking, and especially love that quiet time to myself, away from all the craziness that a house full of small children & husbands can bring. I’m very lucky to have a farm to walk around – wide open space and birdsong is gabulous for the soul
woops! that’s “FABULOUS” ;D
Well, Julie, I quite liked the word “gabulous”!
me too!
I love this – yes walking is everything you have said, the ideal way to calm down, or get inspired or just mull over a little conundrum you may have. My knees now stop me walking too far, but I have such ahankering to go for long long walks….
Nietzsche’s quote is so true. When I was in architecture school and stuck on a design problem, I’d take a walk. By the time I had spent some time in the fresh air, sounds of nature, moving my body, letting the blood pump back into my brain, I’d have ideas about how to solve the design problem and be refreshed when I returned to the studio. Definitely a simple pleasure.
You know where I love walking the most? New York City. It always strikes me as funny, since it’s such a great place for mass transit (compared to Dallas, which so isn’t). But I love walking around NYC. I love taking in the sights, love seeing the people. And there’s such an energy there that you miss on subways or buses!
My favourite place to walk is Paris. I adore the history, architecture, the people… and all the adorable little shops – it’s so different to my home city of Brisbane!
I love walking – especially early in the morning (not that I particularly like getting up early, but once I am up, it’s good) when it’s all fresh & new