Walking through life

 

Soft pleasing music, the sweet fragrance of Parijat in the air while walking in the starry moonlight, all make up to what is the most peacefully, pleasing end to my day.

I just love walking. It is that simple. It’s like my default response to everything there is. Feeling good? Walk. Feeling grumpy? Walk. Feeling confused? Walk. Feeling upset? Walk. Feel like punching someone? Okay, maybe punch and then, walk.

It’s not about walking with a specific destination in mind. Just strolling around, while contemplating, is I feel, the best way to sort your thoughts out. There’s a certain calm that descends over me when I walk. A sense of deep relaxation. I take that as the time when I allow myself to pause the thoughts I’ve been worrying about and reward myself with a few moments of peace no matter how my day has been. It is in those moments that the most amazing ideas, solutions and perspectives arise.

It's not like I’ve been a walking person all my life. Being the lazy baby I was, I always threw tantrums whenever I had to walk through the shortest distance. But my smart mum found a pretty amazing way to get me walking. She offered me a ‘Champak’, my favourite magazine back then for every time I walked to the market with her. Well, that pretty much closed the deal.

I feel the best way to bond with anyone is by walking together. The best conversations are the ones held over long tranquil walks. Strolling together, just putting out your thoughts is the best way there is to know and blend with people. When two individuals walk together, they synchronize their footsteps, automatically aligning to the other’s pace and state of mind. It’s all beautiful, really.

Maybe you don’t even need to talk. Just ambling together sharing a placid silence. Or maybe listening to some song while you stroll. Anything, really. Walking itself holds a special magic that just brings people wonderfully, amazingly together.

And, if the other person doesn’t want to go on a walk with you, Red Flag! Ward off!!

In the hustle of everyday life, complex thinking becomes the default setting. But when we allow ourselves a few minutes of solitude everyday, a time where only you and your thoughts remain, there comes a point when we realize that maybe it’s not that complicated after all. Maybe it really is a simple situation and the only thing complicating it is our own way of thought. And once you recognize that fact, sorting the entire thing becomes pretty easy.

To long walks and self talks!