Since at least the time of Greek philosophers, many writers have discovered a deep, intuitive connection between walking, thinking, and writing. https://t.co/P5WJa9FwvC— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) January 26, 2020
Do you live in a cave? Cave-dwellers (including the screen-obsessive sort, and excessive patrons of sports bars) need to get out more. The open air is a great place to think and philosophize... Peripatetics reject Wall-e World...
"Right now we are deciding, without quite meaning to, which evolutionary pathways will remain open and which will forever be closed. No other creature has ever managed this, and it will, unfortunately, be our most enduring legacy." Elizabeth Kolbert, The Sixth Extinction
"Walking exposes us to the constant flux of a changing environment, providing us with an endless array of new and unique experiences, which combined with our past memories may, through serendipity alone, provoke new associations and give birth to new ideas." Paul Snowden
The case for getting back on our feetThe humble act of putting one foot in front of the other transcends age, geography, culture, and class, and is one of the most economical and environmentally responsible modes of transit. Yet with our modern fixation on speed, this healthy pedestrian activity has been largely left behind.
At a personal and professional crossroads, writer, editor, and obsessive walker Dan Rubinstein travelled throughout the U.S., U.K., and Canada to walk with people who saw the act not only as a form of transportation and recreation, but also as a path to a better world. There are no magic-bullet solutions to modern epidemics like obesity, anxiety, alienation, and climate change. But what if there is a simple way to take a step in the right direction? Combining fascinating reportage, eye-opening research, and Rubinstein’s own discoveries, Born to Walk explores how far this ancient habit can take us, how much repair is within range, and guarantees that you’ll never again take walking for granted.
“Every day can be a pilgrimage, if the goal is a deeper sense of your small role in the revolving world.”
 | Robert Macfarlane (@RobGMacfarlane) |
Word of the day: "inscendence" - the impulse not to rise above the world (transcendence) but to climb into it, seek its core. (Thomas Berry) pic.twitter.com/u7XsX7nC4q
 “My God is the God of Walkers. If you walk hard enough, you probably don’t need any other god.” Bruce Chatwin | |
Science has proven that exercise can influence the mind into thinking more positively, and it has also been proven that sedentary lifestyles lead towards a path of depression and low self-worth. Daily exercise can be beneficial to the mind, even if it is just going for a short walk.
ReplyDeleteI'd agree. It's also a great way to simply take your mind off of things, focus on the next step or next rep rather than your stresses. I find it interesting that it can help you think so well and take your mind off things just as well.
DeleteThere is something that draws us to these profound Greek philosophers even though some of their methods are dated. Their ability to learn at its basic core fascinates me.
ReplyDeleteToo many times we see people spend their lives climbing up. Inscendence reminds me we are greatly a part of this world although we seek to distinguish ourselves as individuals.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think this is why many of us pace around the room subconsciously while talking on the phone. I notice that when I am on a call with someone I find myself walking in circles, paths, or climbing into strange positions on my couch to tr ad keep my train of thought going. Very excited to give this a try in class
ReplyDelete-Jacob Wagner