walkingman

I know this may sound crazy but I love to walk. I would rather walk then drive. I would rather walk then fly. I would rather walk then run. My neighbor drives to the fitness center which is less than five blocks away so he can run on a tread mill. I have asked him why he does not walk or run to the fitness center and he looks at me like I am crazy. His best explanation is that he needs to keep accurate track of his workout and the machines record this information better for him. I guess the problem is that I do not see walking as exercise or work. It is just an enjoyable way to get around and to be outside. I do not power walk, I do not walk with a pedometer strapped to my body, and I do not take my pulse at the stoplights. I just walk. Joggers pass me by, bikers pass me by, drivers pass me by, but I just keep walking. I live in the suburbs and bought my house close to the train station so I could walk every day to the station. If it rains I carry an umbrella, if it snows I bundle up in warm clothes, and if it is hot I walk a little slower. Once downtown I can take the bus or walk if the weather is nice. It is so funny to hear people complain about having to walk a couple blocks or two. These same people pay huge monthly dues to belong to those fancy health clubs and gyms. Why not just take the stairs down at lunch time and walk those few blocks as well? As I blogged earlier I also like to walk and read at the same time. I have been doing it for so long that it is almost second nature now. I have learned to watch out for the hazards while enjoying the latest book. The key is to find good paperback books, something light to carry. Save the heavy hardbacks for reading on the train or at home. Walking is a great way to exercise without really trying to exercise. Walking is something that most of us can do with no problem. Just get a good pair of walking shoes and put one foot in front of the other and you are on your way. You can walk in the city, in the downtown shopping area looking at the great windows for those things you will never buy, in the park and enjoy the trees, the grass, and nature, along a lakefront, in a rural area along a country lane. You can walk to the dry cleaner, to the caf, to the hardware store, to the library, to the club, to the post office, and to the shoe store to buy another pair of walking shoes. You can walk fast or walk slow. As you are walking you can check out the parts that you are attracted to as they pass coming or going. You can also walk and display those parts you are proud of as well. Walking is also something that you can do with the family. Many great family outings have begun with a simple foot in front of the other. We have visited many national and state parks and walked historical trails. We have taken in the sights and sounds of our neighborhood and enjoyed discovering the night sky on late night walks in both summer and winter. I know that we probably look like a family of daffy ducks walking in the rain during a simple downpour but it is refreshing to share such a blessed time with your wife and kids. I am learning to rediscover a much simpler and less stressful way of life and it is fucking amazing. There is so much of life out there to discover and enjoy if one slows down and takes time to appreciate it. Now I walk and the important part of life just does not pass me by anymore.