Take a walk

I read this today:
'She's on the horizon... I go two steps, she moves two steps away. I walk ten steps and the horizon runs ten steps ahead. No matter how much I walk, I'll never reach her. What good is utopia? That's what: it's good for walking.'
I read it in Naomi Klein's latest book No is Not Enough. She takes it from a book called Walking Words by Eduardo Galeano.

It inspired me somewhat so...

I went for a walk. Not a special walk, nothing too taxing, not a ramble requiring extreme exertion; just a walk. I saw eight-foot snowmen, a giant cock n' balls made of snow. I spoke to Shaun, one of the many local homeless beggars (who incidentally is soon to be given accommodation); I spoke to a traveling monk about reincarnation, meditation, and science; I listened to myself think, shared smiles with strangers, bought myself long-johns and my girlfriends Christmas present.

When I originally left my accommodation today I had no pre-formed plan, no intentions; other than to go take a walk.

I feel immensely privileged to be able to do this. That's why I decided to write about it now.

There's something about just walking around half aimlessly that is very pleasing. If you have absolutely no pre-defined aim in your journey, not only does the effort seem frictionless but you'll (if you are like me) find yourself noticing peculiar things -previously unnoticed, in familiar places. Things that you don't notice in a rush from the train station, at pace on your bike, or in your car. Those lanes that you've never bothered to venture down suddenly open up, become inviting even.

I am somewhat of a rambler. I do enjoy long walks -especially if there's a cozy pub waiting at the end of the route. But just setting off without a plan, nor map or compass seems to me the most rewarding form of rambling. Short distance, around familiar places with increased chances of catching up with familiar faces; random rambling really is cathartic. Try it.