Walking.
I’ve found I love walking.
Especially now that it’s cold which is a bit weird to some people I’m sure.
But I like being out in the brisk autumn air it feels good it smells good.
The cold wind greets me it is welcoming it wants to walk with me.
I see so many people walking past. I smile.
Sometimes they don’t see because they’re too busy looking at their phone.
Or they just don’t want to make eye contact. I wonder why.
I don’t look down at my phone when I walk.
My dad has told me people can snatch it out of your hand when you’re busy scrolling through Twitter and not paying attention.
Maybe that’s why I don’t look at my phone. Maybe it’s because I don’t care what’s going on in the Internet world at that moment. Maybe it’s because on my walks I only care about feeling my presence in the world at that moment. And connecting to Now.
But some people notice and smile back. I wonder what those people are thinking. I wonder how they’re feeling. I wonder if they’re having a good day so that’s why they smiled. Maybe if they were having a bad day they wouldn’t have smiled. I wonder if maybe they’re having a bad day and a smile from a stranger has made them feel assured that not everything is bad so that’s why they smile. I wonder what their story is.
I like talking to the strangers I meet. If I get the chance. I like asking how they’re doing. I like reminding them to have a nice day so they can remember they still have the chance to make today a good idea. I like getting their recommendations for the best cupcakes on line at the bakery. I like finding out what the lady at the register at Lush is studying and where she wants to go abroad. I like when the man behind me cracks a quick joke and we laugh for a second. In that moment we are two strangers suddenly connected.
Stopped at a street corner a man comments on my jacket. “It’s getting cold!” I smile. He smiles. I reply, “Yes, it’s chilly. Have a nice day!” He’s in my story and I’m in his. But we’ll never see each other again.
I thought I hated people. That’s not true. I dislike a lot of people and I like a lot of people. It depends on whether or not they’re good.
It’s not hard to tell if someone is good. Good people have a genuine glow when they smile. No false imagery.
I’ve found its a lot easier and makes me a lot happier to love everyone. And to be kind to everyone. Even when they are not kind.
I do not feel sad for myself when people are not kind. I feel sad for them. Because something has happened to them where they cannot seem to recognize their presence in the world and smile. Or maybe nothing has happened to them yet where they have realized their presence in the world.
I’m a real human now. In the real world. I always make jokes about it but it’s real. I feel more and more present in the world. Especially when I walk.
I’m walking to places to do things. I walk to Whole Foods to do my grocery shopping. I’m eating healthy. I’m spending extra money because I care about the food I’m putting in my body. That’s my choice as a real human in the real world.
I walk to my favorite coffee house to sit and get a cappuccino and people watch. It’s my favorite part of the day. Other friends say they don’t want to spend extra money on coffee from coffee houses. I understand. Maybe I shouldn’t either. But I like the alone time to think in my head with a cup of coffee. And I like the walk after with the last few sips of my coffee before tossing it in the trash. it’s my choice as a real human in a real world.
I walk through the park. Others are running. That’s nice. Wait….should I be running too? Is that why everyone’s here? Is that what the park is for? To vigorously work out? That’s not why I’m here. I’m here to smell the air to make friends with the ducks to look at all the leaves and hear them crunch under my feet. I’m here to take my moment. I’m here to feel present in the world. It’s my choice as a real human in the real world.
I walk to escape routine. I like routine but too much routine makes me feel trapped. And it causes me to forget. To forget that there’s a world beyond the routine. So I walk to remember and see and smell and feel the world and it’s presence and mine and ours connected.
I’ve found I love walking.
No comments:
Post a Comment