I think walking
can easily bring happiness. It's a simple, primitive, human thing. The very
being of ourselves, other than breathing, eating, drinking. To move is
essential to the person. And if you're anything like me, I really enjoy the
other primitive things (like eating and drinking), so walking is a no-brainer.
"What dominates in walking, away from ostentation and showing off, is the
simple joy of feeling your body in the most primitively natural activity"
(Philosophy of Walking 143). Especially when walking just to walk (walking can
suck when you have to walk across campus in 90 degree heat). Walking when not
just passing moments to and fro buildings can be an experience. I
think nature come hand-in-hand with walking, especially in order to properly
think or meditate. Maybe I’m just spoiled to living in the country, but I would
have a lot of trouble trying to focus on “why’s” and “how’s” when surrounded by
people, concrete, and cars. Walking to meditate is something I began picking up
since I was a kid and my dad and I went on walks. We didn’t even speak half the
time, we just simply enjoyed our surroundings and company. Now I’m partial to
walking just on my own. To quote The Philosophy of Walking, “The experience of
walking…which as we know brings joy…when it is at rest, of fullness or
plenitude, that secondary, deeper, more fundamental joy, linked with a more
secret affirmation: the body breathes gently, I am alive and I am here”.
Caroline Gunter (H1)
When considering the natural being of people. We have to conceder that naturally humans do not have air conditioning so the human body would get more used to the hotter and cooler weather. Then perhaps walking in 90 degree weather would have seemed more comfortable if we did not have the luxury of air conditioning.
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