I've been making more of an effort lately to walk without headphones too, sometimes after a little bit of meditation (which I find gives me a similar mental effect to a long walk, giving everything "twice it's usual value" as Trevelian put it). And honestly the joy I've been finding in simply looking at trees is incredible. As you said, they've always been there, but now they feel so much more alive to me.
I've been planning on writing an entire essay on it actually, mostly to try to clarify to myself what exactly it is about trees that has awoken to me, but it's a change that's been very welcome. Everything else has started to appear a little more beautiful too, but trees most of all.
Though your essay is about the simple act of walking, it is far from pedestrian. Rich considerations for the sole. Daily cycling has been my therapy of choice for many years now. There's is something about watching the world go by that is deeply healing, especially when it's nature I am passing through.
And wouldn’t you have it, I coincidentally started reading “Walking” by Thoreau yesterday morning. (It’s one of the essays in a bundle—The Art of the Personal Essay—combined by Philip Lopate).
So far I am mostly jealous of Thoreau’s surroundings (nature) vs that of my own 😂(which is OK nature-wise for Dutch standards, but you can always hear a road where I walk and it’s impossible to get lost here).
I also listen to podcasts too much, but I try to walk once a week without them at least.
I've been making more of an effort lately to walk without headphones too, sometimes after a little bit of meditation (which I find gives me a similar mental effect to a long walk, giving everything "twice it's usual value" as Trevelian put it). And honestly the joy I've been finding in simply looking at trees is incredible. As you said, they've always been there, but now they feel so much more alive to me.
I've been planning on writing an entire essay on it actually, mostly to try to clarify to myself what exactly it is about trees that has awoken to me, but it's a change that's been very welcome. Everything else has started to appear a little more beautiful too, but trees most of all.
Though your essay is about the simple act of walking, it is far from pedestrian. Rich considerations for the sole. Daily cycling has been my therapy of choice for many years now. There's is something about watching the world go by that is deeply healing, especially when it's nature I am passing through.
Lovely again!
And wouldn’t you have it, I coincidentally started reading “Walking” by Thoreau yesterday morning. (It’s one of the essays in a bundle—The Art of the Personal Essay—combined by Philip Lopate).
So far I am mostly jealous of Thoreau’s surroundings (nature) vs that of my own 😂(which is OK nature-wise for Dutch standards, but you can always hear a road where I walk and it’s impossible to get lost here).
I also listen to podcasts too much, but I try to walk once a week without them at least.