This week’s Walk It Off features children's book legend Jon Scieszka taking me for a walk in the Catskills. But we didn’t simply walk, we “walked the stream,” as Jon puts it, occasionally stopping to do some fly fishing along the way. Which got me thinking about the little activities that we all do while we walk. Sometimes, of course, the walk is the main focus. Simply putting one foot in front of the other. But sometimes when I walk I stop to write notes in my notebook, or take photos, or, you know, talk with my friends and turn that conversation into a newsletter. I know other people who like to pay attention to the trees, and others who keep an eye out for birds. Some folks, like Jon, like to bring a fishing rod. So I wanted to hear from y’all. What are some of your favorite things to do while you’re out for a walk?
I love noticing faces in physical things (like seeing two round things and something that resembles a smile or mouth). I love checking out what people are wearing on the streets. Puppies. I love hearing rain sounds especially when it's a rainy day -- it's also quieter.
During the pandemic, my wife and I started walking in the alleys here (Plateau-Mont-Royal) to avoid people. We take pictures of the graffiti, say hello to cat friends, pet a few dogs. During the summer it's nice, because you can see gardens and people eating on their balconies. During the winter it's also lovely, because you can see more of the yards with no foliage, and you can look at the huge icicles. The winter also feels more like hiking, because there are always really narrow paths in the snow. The other upside is you get to see activities, summer it's picnics and that one bocce court. In the winter there are small skating rinks, snow men and forts.
As I walk the dog—Miss Lucy must get her 4 walks a day! I contemplate my art projects. What I’ll do next how to get that green I see in the park. I’m a total amateur but I love mucking about with my watercolours and pens.
I looove bird watching. NYC has more than pigeons! Some people are surprised to learn that there are more than 180 species of birds that pass through Prospect Park during migration season, which is almost upon us. :) I greet these birds that have flown thousands of miles across mountains and oceans. Most of them are passing through. Like the tiny Northern Parula will come from Ontario, Quebec and Northern Maine. They stop here for a few days to rest and refuel before heading to the wintering grounds in the Yucatan Peninsula. And I get to share be there with me in that moment on their journey.
I walk my dogs every morning and stop to talk with the cast of regulars who are out at the same time, we are like a little club. One neighbor has tons of unchecked dandelion growing in his yard and doesn't mind if I forage some to make horta (stewed Greek greens). He laughs and shakes his head, probably thinks I'm a little weird. I check in on my neighbor Ivan, who will be 100 in November. He has a gentle, soft-spoken way that sets the tone for my day. Everyone talks about Covid, of course, but it somehow lessens my anxiety. I come away with the sense that we are all in this together as a community. During the pandemic, I've made double batches of curry once a week, one portion for my family and one to drop off on a neighbor's doorstep. Lots of people around here keep horses and there is always a clip clop somewhere in the distance that makes me feel like I'm out in the country, reminds me of my rural childhood and the sense of freedom and ebullience at being outside, even though I live in Los Angeles. Now more than ever, outside is where I feel restored.
I think I got this from my parents' little comments on car rides my whole life: I like to "check up" on the neighbors when I walk. I like to see how somebody's garden is progressing or whether that house has sold yet or if the bubblegum pink chevy truck is ever coming back (it did come back!). Who got a new dog or who still has a Trump sign up in the Year of Our Lord 2021. Just little snippets of the lives I'm walking past.
I often walk past Little Free Libraries, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know people’s tastes; I’ve started leaving books based on what people seem to like best at each location. I’m inordinately pleased when I get it right!
During the pandemic I'm mostly walking my dog here and there in our neighborhood, so I've gotten to know it pretty well. On the surface it would seem pretty dull, but if one actually *looks* at what's there it's quite interesting. The other day I walked down an alley and saw a perfectly placed solitary corn stalk growing next to a garage (https://www.instagram.com/p/CTL-xLML8Cc/). I also noticed a pineapple(!) growing in somebody's garden. I live north of Seattle...
Sidewalk "treasure" abounds, and is sometimes really weird. There's always something interesting to take a photo of, and I document what I see on my Instagram account.
I've recently gotten into Pimsleur, the language learning call-and-response thing. [You've seen this method—in Love Actually, this is how the writer learns Portuguese]. So, during my half-hour constitutionals, I will pretend to take a phone call into my headphones, making faces like it's a serious conversation as I repeat "Yes, I would like to eat lunch at the restaurant on Veneto Street, and you?" in shoddy Italian. It's all very silly and I'm having fun with it.
I absolutely love walking my dog and use this time to set intentions or goals. I also love eavesdropping and picking up snippets of people's conversations and moods. Ooops! Did I say too much! Love your newsletter!
I work a very demanding job as a child welfare social worker so I don't get to go on many long walks. During the work day many people and tasks demand my attention so when I do have a chance to break away and go walking, I like to put my headphones in and listen to podcasts or audio books. I can focus and concentrate on what I'm seeing/hearing on walks in ways that I can't when I'm indoors.
Walking in a little park gives me such joy. Watching laughing children as they run under the water jets. When I feel a breeze I close my eyes pretenting I'm somewhere else, usually the beach. Walking is my special time.
I love noticing faces in physical things (like seeing two round things and something that resembles a smile or mouth). I love checking out what people are wearing on the streets. Puppies. I love hearing rain sounds especially when it's a rainy day -- it's also quieter.
I look for busted up and abandoned umbrellas. I photograph them and then contemplate morbid titles to give them on my blog.
During the pandemic, my wife and I started walking in the alleys here (Plateau-Mont-Royal) to avoid people. We take pictures of the graffiti, say hello to cat friends, pet a few dogs. During the summer it's nice, because you can see gardens and people eating on their balconies. During the winter it's also lovely, because you can see more of the yards with no foliage, and you can look at the huge icicles. The winter also feels more like hiking, because there are always really narrow paths in the snow. The other upside is you get to see activities, summer it's picnics and that one bocce court. In the winter there are small skating rinks, snow men and forts.
As I walk the dog—Miss Lucy must get her 4 walks a day! I contemplate my art projects. What I’ll do next how to get that green I see in the park. I’m a total amateur but I love mucking about with my watercolours and pens.
I looove bird watching. NYC has more than pigeons! Some people are surprised to learn that there are more than 180 species of birds that pass through Prospect Park during migration season, which is almost upon us. :) I greet these birds that have flown thousands of miles across mountains and oceans. Most of them are passing through. Like the tiny Northern Parula will come from Ontario, Quebec and Northern Maine. They stop here for a few days to rest and refuel before heading to the wintering grounds in the Yucatan Peninsula. And I get to share be there with me in that moment on their journey.
If I'm going on a long one and the weather's nice, I bring a film camera with me and make some images while I'm on my walk.
I walk my dogs every morning and stop to talk with the cast of regulars who are out at the same time, we are like a little club. One neighbor has tons of unchecked dandelion growing in his yard and doesn't mind if I forage some to make horta (stewed Greek greens). He laughs and shakes his head, probably thinks I'm a little weird. I check in on my neighbor Ivan, who will be 100 in November. He has a gentle, soft-spoken way that sets the tone for my day. Everyone talks about Covid, of course, but it somehow lessens my anxiety. I come away with the sense that we are all in this together as a community. During the pandemic, I've made double batches of curry once a week, one portion for my family and one to drop off on a neighbor's doorstep. Lots of people around here keep horses and there is always a clip clop somewhere in the distance that makes me feel like I'm out in the country, reminds me of my rural childhood and the sense of freedom and ebullience at being outside, even though I live in Los Angeles. Now more than ever, outside is where I feel restored.
Walking in the desert in the autumn, after the brutal hot weather has passed. The desert has a magic, vitality and spirit all its own.
If it's legal, sometimes I bring my metal detector.
And I find a treasure or two.
I think I got this from my parents' little comments on car rides my whole life: I like to "check up" on the neighbors when I walk. I like to see how somebody's garden is progressing or whether that house has sold yet or if the bubblegum pink chevy truck is ever coming back (it did come back!). Who got a new dog or who still has a Trump sign up in the Year of Our Lord 2021. Just little snippets of the lives I'm walking past.
I go out looking for the family of crows that visit my garden on the roof of Science House in Manhattan. Yesterday I found them at Bryant Park.
I often walk past Little Free Libraries, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know people’s tastes; I’ve started leaving books based on what people seem to like best at each location. I’m inordinately pleased when I get it right!
During the pandemic I'm mostly walking my dog here and there in our neighborhood, so I've gotten to know it pretty well. On the surface it would seem pretty dull, but if one actually *looks* at what's there it's quite interesting. The other day I walked down an alley and saw a perfectly placed solitary corn stalk growing next to a garage (https://www.instagram.com/p/CTL-xLML8Cc/). I also noticed a pineapple(!) growing in somebody's garden. I live north of Seattle...
Sidewalk "treasure" abounds, and is sometimes really weird. There's always something interesting to take a photo of, and I document what I see on my Instagram account.
I've recently gotten into Pimsleur, the language learning call-and-response thing. [You've seen this method—in Love Actually, this is how the writer learns Portuguese]. So, during my half-hour constitutionals, I will pretend to take a phone call into my headphones, making faces like it's a serious conversation as I repeat "Yes, I would like to eat lunch at the restaurant on Veneto Street, and you?" in shoddy Italian. It's all very silly and I'm having fun with it.
I do some of my best writing work while walking/talking into my voice memo app. Incidentally also delighted when I see a banana peel.
I absolutely love walking my dog and use this time to set intentions or goals. I also love eavesdropping and picking up snippets of people's conversations and moods. Ooops! Did I say too much! Love your newsletter!
This site and your readers is truly faith-restoring...so many acts of kindness, so many thoughtful souls.
I work a very demanding job as a child welfare social worker so I don't get to go on many long walks. During the work day many people and tasks demand my attention so when I do have a chance to break away and go walking, I like to put my headphones in and listen to podcasts or audio books. I can focus and concentrate on what I'm seeing/hearing on walks in ways that I can't when I'm indoors.
Walking in a little park gives me such joy. Watching laughing children as they run under the water jets. When I feel a breeze I close my eyes pretenting I'm somewhere else, usually the beach. Walking is my special time.