Take a Hike

I love walking. And I like what Bill Bryson writes about walking. Walking versus hiking, I mean. He cites the fact that people in the British Isles walk all over the place. Sometimes that even involves walking around the whole perimeter of England. His point is that they walk. They are leisurely. He thinks Americans put too much emphasis on hiking. Covering a certain distance. Hauling their hiking boots and driving someplace to hike. Having the miles of ground covered becomes the important thing. Anne Lamott’s husband (whose name is Neal Allen, I want to make sure I credit him) says, “Eighty percent of everything that is true and beautiful can be experienced on any ten-minute walk.” Over and over I find that to be true. On my longer walks, sometimes I listen to music with a fast walking beat to get my heart rate up, although I try not to let that be the judge of my self-worth. Sometimes I meander and listen to an audio book. Sometimes I do neither and walk in silence. That being said, I greet nearly everyone I pass. Sometimes they answer, sometimes not. Sometimes they want to engage in conversation and I stop to chat.  Anyway, if you want some company on a walk, give me a holler. I will walk miles with you. Just don’t ask me to go hiking.

Photo credit DolfiAm at Pixabay.com