On Walking

The other night, I took a walk through the city at night. I crossed over the 10th street bridge from the Southside and began wandering through streets I had never walked on before. Being a Pittsburgh native, I’ve driven or biked just about every street downtown, but I’ve realized how few of those same streets I had actually experienced. Walking lets you take in the details. This winter, I’m a walker. I’ve traded in my bike commuting ways for the slower pace of walking…or trudging at times. I like to walk in the cold. The colder, the better. The longer the distance, the greater the challenge. I trust my feet to carry me. It is a worthwhile activity.

Walking requires planning. Once you leave the warmth of your home, you’ve got to depend on the items you have on and could carry with you. I like to carry a backpack. Just a small daypack. I carry with me alternate layers, water, and a snack. When I walk out the front door of my apartment building, bundled with the latest configuration of gear, I feel like I’m on an expedition. Each walk becomes a challenge. How far can I go before my feet start to hurt? How fast can I get there? I always trust that I am prepared for any situation I may encounter. I plan ahead. My efficiency planning is best in these moments.

As I walk, I find my mind swirling around a multitude of ideas. I’m chewing on thoughts. I’m testing my strategies for their weak points and constructing solutions. Sometimes, I stop to write down one of the crazy questions that pops into my head. Maybe this thought will lead me somewhere new, somewhere different. They range from rational to ridiculous, practical to absurd. From time to time, I revisit the notes I take down and ruminate on the words I had written.

I often laugh.

I think it’s the slower pace of walking that lends itself to deeper reflections and weird analogies. I used to feel like cycling was the best activity for reflection, but I don’t think that anymore. My thoughts are too rapid. Maybe I’m just more vigilant or alert when I’m speeding around on two wheels. Thoughts whiz by me and I can’t catch them. When I’m walking, it’s like I’ve falling into step with my reflective process. It’s slow and cyclical. Sometimes, I walk with an idea for miles; other times, only a minute. I always gain something, an insight or two. It is always a positive activity.

Walking is my winter mode of transportation. It is the perfect way to traverse the icy urban tundra that begins to develop just after the new year starts. The frozen wind in your face, making your cheekbones prickle. Feeling your hands warm up after the first half hour of walking. No more stinging fingertips. But the best part is that it keeps your mind warm.