In college, I felt self-conscious about not having a car. I'd walk a mile to-and-from campus each day and resent the fact that everyone else seemingly had one. On these walks, I'd regularly cross paths with another resident of my apartment building—a guy a few years my senior who was also always on foot.
One day, seeking validation for our perceived hardship, I approached him: "I see you walking all the time too, really sucks to not have a car, right?"
Looking at me with a mix of understanding and mild disdain, he explained that walking was his joy. During his military service, an explosion in combat had damaged his back, leaving him unable to walk for two years. He had to relearn to walk, making every step now a gift rather than a burden.
I never complained about walking again.
dylan.brodeur.eth
Over 100 subscribers
I walk all the time to all the places, I'm very happy to not live in a place that is built around cars. Also I love walking randomly around without a specific destination in mind, the French call it flaner, it's a nice break from screens. often some of my best thinking happens during walks.
i used to walk 2 km to college in US and another 2km back home, even though i have a car, just because i love to walk and consume my surroundings back in jakarta, i can't walk for shit, everywhere is car-centric, pedestrian sidewalks are non-existant, often blocked by tree trunks and parked by motorcycles and cars 🫨