Up@dawn 2.0

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Anger, Happiness and Walking



  At first glance I was in agreement with the statement “Anger is needed to leave, to walk" but after taking some time to think about it I disagree. I like to think of myself as an optimist so I almost, ALWAYS, find a positive outlook on situations. I agree that walking can be an outlet for anger. It’s common to hear people say “I went for a walk to blow some steam or even to clear my head.” Walking could actually deescalate a hostile situation. Chapter 5 mentioned how Rousseau wasn’t walking to escape the world and horrors. Walking could be used for this purpose. When my kids have a conflict with one another I make them take a walk before we sit down to resolve it. This gives them time release anger, frustration and even figure out a resolution. So yes, I agree that walking can be an outlet to release anger.

I also agree that walking can be a time of happiness and celebration. Some examples of this are: a bride walking down the aisle to meet her groom, a college student walking across stage receiving their degree or a nice family stroll through the park spending quality time together. Walking can also generate creativity as it did for Rousseau. “Rousseau claimed to be incapable of thinking properly, of composing, creating or finding inspiration except when walking.” This week I had to choreograph an African dance number for the student’s end of the year showcase. On my stroll through the neighborhood, movements immediately came to me. Now this was easy to do because I didn’t have any distracts. Being outside was peaceful and I enjoyed it. It was like having the best of both worlds. Enjoyment and creativity all at once while walking.  

2 comments:

  1. It's great to walk away from negative emotions, but that's just the flipside of walking towards positivity. I agree, we ought to be teaching kids to walk as an anger-management strategy. But more important is to show them how those walks in the park and down the aisle move us forward towards the good life. Again, it's about breaking down the natural egotism that falsely makes everything about oneself. (Or is that "natural"? Rousseau says no.) It's about civilizing ourselves and connecting with one another, which paradoxically may require a little prep time alone with one's thoughts.

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  2. Any emotion can be used constructively and destructively. Walking is a time to harness and find a way to constructively control one's emotions. I agree that any form of organized exercise provides one an outlet for the emotions of the body and the mind, because when one is out and interacting in the environment, be it with people, nature, or external stimulus one is using both their mind and their body and can focus them as one to attain what some might call a spirituality and sense of relation to the external world. One is always aware of them-self and ponders if others think the same as them which is empathy, and empathy is civilization. Walking or simply moving in nature is the most accessible and basic form of this.

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