Why I Wrote This Book
For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed of one day changing the world.
When I was in first grade, I confidently asserted that I would be the first female President of the United States. I told my teachers, my classmates, and everyone I knew — admittedly, a small circle at the time. At the end of the school year, my teachers Mrs. Gabelman and Mrs. Troy, proud of my dedication to my lofty goal, named me the “Most Ambitious” member of the class. I proudly hung the certificate on our kitchen refrigerator, taking it as an early sign of my teachers’ support for my future political campaign.
From an early age, my parents instilled in me the belief that I had the power to make a difference in the world. I was determined to change the world in some way or another, and what better way to do that, I thought, than to be the leader of the free world?
In subsequent years, filled with the wisdom and practicality of age, I concocted new plans for how I wanted to change the world. In third grade, I decided that I wanted to solve people’s problems as an inventor, drawing up detailed plans for a flying car and a robot that would cook and clean. In fourth grade, I declared that I would be a school teacher, so I could positively influence kids in the way that my teachers had. By fifth grade, I had landed on the fact that I wanted to help people in times of crisis by being a lawyer like my dad.
My world was simple then. Living a blissful childhood in a small Maryland suburb, I was only vaguely aware of all of the problems facing the world. I didn’t comprehend the complexity of many of the world’s challenges, from climate change and inequality to conflict and unemployment. To me, changing the world and having power were mutually necessary: I thought that the act of being in a position of power would guarantee my ability to change the world, and I believed that the only way to change the world was to be in a position of power.
In my youthful mindset, changing the world would have to wait until I was older or more educated or more experienced or more powerful.
The problems facing the world today are daunting — arguably, even more daunting and complex than when I was in elementary school dreaming of taking on the responsibility of being the President of the United States.
Sea levels are rising. Polarization is increasing. More than a billion individuals are living in extreme poverty. Obesity is on the rise. Trust in institutions is plummeting to all-time lows. Inequality is reaching new extremes. And that’s just the beginning of the work to be done.
In the face of these problems that threaten the safety, security, and even existence of our world as we know it, how could anyone possibly make a difference?
My answer: Walk.
I know, it sounds crazy. The very survival of our planet is at stake, and I’m proposing that the solution could be as simple as going for a walk.
In It Starts with a Step, I write that walking holds the key to solving the world’s most pressing problems. From fostering mental and physical health and closing gaps of inequality to increasing productivity and reducing environmental footprints, the collective impact of walking has the power to change the world.
Throughout college, I spent a significant amount of time both in and out of the classroom exploring theories of how to change the world. This investigation ranged from doing random acts of kindness to brighten individuals’ days to working in the business, government, and non-profit sectors to determine the unique potential for each one to do good in the world. Through these experiences, I discovered that impact is not limited to any specific industry, job description, stage of life, or type of individual. Change is derived from the collective power of individual actions. Every day — just by being present in the world — each person has an impact.
Prior to writing It Starts with a Step, I never considered walking as something that could be impactful. It was something I did every day. Simply the way to get from one place to another. Nothing more than a necessary — at times inconvenient — part of life.
In reflecting on the role of walking in my life, however, I realized just how impactful it has been. It’s helped me stay in shape, provided me with stress relief, allowed me to explore and learn about unfamiliar places, cut down my personal carbon footprint, helped me build meaningful relationships, permitted me to voice my opinion, and aided me in learning about and shaping the world around me. Without realizing it, walking has impacted nearly every aspect of my life.
And so, I decided to investigate the central question of my book:
How can walking change the world?
When I posed this question to nonprofit executive directors, urban planners, business executives, teachers and professors, students, walking enthusiasts, and everyone in between, I wasn’t sure how they might respond. Skepticism? Surprise? Ridicule?
I was overwhelmed by what I discovered. I began writing It Starts with a Step with a vague theory that walking has the power to change the world. In the process, I learned about the ways in which people are already leaving incredible marks on the world through walking.
The central message of all of my conversations and research?
Regardless of whether individuals realize its benefits, walking is an inherently impactful mode of transportation.
It Starts with a Step illustrates the ways in which people of all backgrounds — regardless of their age, geographic location, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, ability, or any other factor — can make, and are already making, a difference in the world by walking. In the book, I walk you through the stories of some of the people who are already changing the world through their footsteps.
While these stories offer ideas for channeling your steps into change, it is ultimately up to you to determine what kind of an impact you want your own steps to make.
Every day you have the power to change the world just by walking in it. What kind of a footprint do you want to leave?
Want to join me in walking for a better world? Email me at crc107@georgetown.edu or connect with me on LinkedIn. To read more about how you can change the world by walking, check out my latest book It Starts with a Step on Amazon.
