Taking walks.

I think it’s nice to have a routine, almost ritualistic walk. The problem I used to have on weekends is that the long walks to and from school were absent, in the mornings and afternoons respectively. If I never felt compelled to, I didn’t go outside. So when summer hit, and I had no reason to walk a long distance anywhere, I kept on finding excuses to go outside. Walking to the grocery store, or the farmer’s market. Around the neighbourhood, or down the street and back again for a few blocks. However, it was irregular, and I always had to compel myself to do it.

I don’t enjoy walks because of the health benefits, although getting more exercise is always a plus. I like to take walks because it means about half an hour or more of being alone with my own thoughts. Of course, I could just sit down on a chair or lie down on the couch to think, daydream, etc. – but then I’m mostly sedentary, and my thoughts aren’t always that active. All I have to stare at indoors are the walls around me and the ceiling, along with the various miscellaneous objects in whatever room I happen to be in at the time. Outside, there’s inspiration.

I had little time for these unscheduled walks during the last few weeks of my stay in the States. My family and I stayed over at an acquaintance’s house for a week since I still had a week left at my summer internship at the local university. Before that, it was a foray of packing and moving furniture, boxes all over the place and the next owners of the house dropping in at the most inopportune times.

Of course, living conditions haven’t become much better since my move back to Canada. I’m living in a basement that my family has rented out for the month, until we buy a house and move in. Thankfully, it’s a great, scenic neighborhood with a large park just across the street. Because of this, I’ve been able to go on a lot more walks. Everyday, shortly after dinner. Just exploring the neighborhood, walking to what will become my new school, going around the park, etc.

It’s busy, but still peaceful here. Especially in the afternoons, there’s a wonderful sky overhead, and the weather always seems to be warm and perfect.