What I learn from the footpath

Robert at Middle Zone Musings has a group writing project called “What I learned from…” and this months’ theme is “What I learned from the sidewalk“. Here in Australia, we generally don’t use that word, but I’ve decided to take part anyway. Call it a gesture for cross-cultural understanding : )

I do a lot of walking. It’s my preferred mode of transport and my favourite form of meditation. When I’m troubled or having trouble sleeping I go for long walks in the evening, and it always helps. There’s something about movement that makes it hard to wallow. When I’m walking I can examine my problems with objectivity. It’s easier to separate out the emotions from the issues and look at all the paths I can take. At the same time, it’s almost impossible for me to spend the whole walk focused on the negative.

For example, I might start out thinking about an argument I had with my husband. Why can’t he get home from work earlier? Then I’ll start thinking through all the things I could do before he gets home. Or how I could make him come home earlier – but this seems futile. I’d like it so much better if he didn’t work so much. It would be awesome if we could take some time off and travel more. We could travel for a really long time if we bought a van and camped. I’d love to go up to the Daintree, and I know Ryan wants to go back to the NT. We could take our climbing gear and explore, and I could write articles for Wild Magazine…

See what I mean? Somehow thinking and walking lets my mind run free.

So walking shakes my thoughts loose. But it grounds me in space, as well. Working in a notebook or on the internet, you can get the impression that physical location doesn’t matter. But as humans, we exist in real space, not just cyber space. We are intimately connected with the ground we walk on, the people and places that surround us. When I walk, I can pass enormous diplomatic residences and neglected public housing. A little further and I can walk among the kangaroos on the hill. Or I can head downhill to the lake, and some of the most manicured gardens in Australia. I love this city, the diversity in such short distances and the immediacy of wide open spaces.

Walking connects me to my landscape and my community as well as my thoughts.  There’s always something new for me to learn or realise on the pavement.

Pretty in pink

I get to cross two things off my list today, and neither of them happened with any conscious effort by me.  The first is simple.  Last night I watched the sunset! 

I’ve been having a lot of trouble sleeping lately, and find that walking in the evening helps to tire me out.  I have a circuit that I love, through parks and past posh houses and calm streets.  When I have time, I take a big detour up Red Hill.  It’s steep, but I feel like from the top I can look over all of Canberra.  It was a blustery, hazy dusk last night, but I thought I had time to do the hill.  I wended my way up the saddle, wondering if it would rain on me.  I quite like walking in the rain.  Mindful of the gusts at my back, and the kangaroos on the hillside, I didn’t actually look up  until I reached the top.

I must have looked rediculous, being surprised by what was in front of me.  It was spectacular.  A solid grey roof of cloud, the Brindabella’s fading below like a Japanese print.  In between the most luminous slash of pink.  As I made my way up, the wind got stronger, and the sun slowly slid through the gap, even more pink itself.   I found a rock to sit on and enjoyed the show.

The o ther thing I’m crossing off, I’m not so proud of.  In between all my very personal goals, the most boring resolution of all – lose weight.  But over the last three months, what with the walks  and the heat and the summertime food, I’ve melted.   I lost 4 kilos in 3 months, and I’m under 60.  I’m not sure if this is sustainable, but I’ve bought myself size 8 jeans for the first time in years.

So happy Monday, everybody.  I hope your goals are slowly approaching, too.