Learning to walk

Well, not the mechanical one foot in front of the other part. I mastered that a long time ago. I’m talking about the strange idea of going out for a walk. Not going somewhere to do something - just plain walking around for no particular reason. I don’t know about you, but the concept is a bit foreign to me.

I go out every day and walk quite a lot, but always with a clear purpose in mind. A made-up one will do, like 'let’s see what’s on sale at that store' or 'I need coffee from the Italian shop'.

My children have been pointing out repeatedly that I could just, you know, go out for a walk so here I am - ready for a quick stroll in the neighborhood - all by myself. I don’t have a problem with being by myself as I can always find a distraction - checking the news on the phone, reading, playing a game, etc.

When I first discovered Spotify I was so captivated by it that I’d go for a walk just so I could listen to a podcast. But then, I was no longer alone - Joe Rogan is quite a pleasant walking buddy, Your attention is captivated by the talk so you don't stop to look at anything and you don't have room for your own thoughts.

It was supposed to be a sunny day so I was about to give up when I saw the clouds, but the minute I stepped out it turned out the weather turned out to be quite pleasant. Okay, off we go. Most of the pictures were taken at a weekend outdoor market where I sometimes go to buy fresh foods, directly from the farmer. Instead of checking the stalls looking for cheese or homemade jams, I just took in the atmosphere. I don’t really care for Halloween as it’s an imported holiday for us, but I must admit that the festive decorations go very well with autumn colors. I checked out the flower displays for a bit and came very close to buying some, but that would have ruined the whole experience. This is just a walk and I’m not out to buy anything. (Also, the house is already full of plants and flowers!)

During the pandemic lockdown we used to go for walks in the area, but that was different. When you go for a walk with someone it’s more about sharing a moment and enjoying their company. When you’re on your own you need to be able to enjoy your own company and, also, enjoy the moment. I enjoy my own company, but being in the moment is something I struggle with.

All the meditation gurus I’ve been listening to lately insist ‘there’s nowhere else you need to be, but right here, right now’. It’s an exhilarating sensation to hear that, but how long does it last - 30 seconds, one minute? Then my monkey brain starts sauntering all over the place, pushing to the front random thoughts that take me far away from the here and now. I’m happy to say that during this walk I’ve managed to quiet the monkey worrying about the war or what to cook for dinner. Takes some effort for me to be able to notice things like 'that house is so' nice or 'this street is so peaceful'. On most days I’d pass the flower shop with just a customary glance to check if there’s some flowers I could buy. On this walk, I stopped long enough to notice the cute skeleton in the window, which would have otherwise gone unnoticed. Hey, man!

The question is how many other things go unnoticed when I’m in a hurry to be somewhere else? Not just the skeletons in window displays, but also the skeletons in the closets of my soul? Or the happy feelings? I was told that there are such things as happy feelings, feelings of being at peace. If I walk enough maybe one day I find those too!

Thanks for reading