I had a stupidly simple revelation a few months back: I don’t need to listen to music or talk on the phone when going for a walk. Not only that, but it’s also perfectly pleasant to do so. It can feel a little weird at first, especially when putting earbuds and pressing play is more of a reflex than a habit. Luckily, those pangs don’t last long because you are significantly more aware of your surroundings, for better or worse. You trade your somnambulist ways to engage with the world. You stop trying to get from one place to another as quickly as possible, although you can still put your head down and pick up the pace if needed. You hear the world around you, even when those sounds aren’t all that nice. Most of all though, you get to spend more time with yourself. Your mind gets to wander as your feet keep plugging along. That might mean that you’ll miss out on the latest track, podcast, or catching up with an old friend. Truthfully though, you won’t be missing out at all.
Discussion about this post
No posts
It’s also safer.
And there are so many sounds you would otherwise miss - birdsong-carsong….