AOM Meditations: The Joy of Walking by Leo Babauta

the joy of walking 

by Leo Babauta of Zen Habits

(Source)

"Today I set out from my house and walked. And walked.

I didn’t have a specific destination in mind, but wanted to walk a bit before finding a quiet place to write. So I walked, out of the town where I live and along the tropical, white-sand coastline, to the next town over.

As others drove cocooned in their cars, 

I walked, and emitted nothing but my breath.

As others spent their lunch hour pounding down fat-laden burgers and greasy fries or some other cheesy fried piled-high dish, 

I walked, and burned calories.

As others rushed and stressed, 

I walked, and took my time.

As others sat at their computers, 

I walked, and got my blood flowing.

As others held power business meetings and made deals, 

I walked, and had time to think.

As others were productive and got tasks done, 

I walked and got nothing done, and cleared my head.

As others had the comfort of shelter and air-conditioning, 

I walked and worked up a light sweat 

and was buffeted by the wind.

As a white gull floated serenely above a calm bay, 

I walked, and watched, and loved it.

I walked for an hour, then wrote and read, and then walked for another hour to get back home, tired but happy.

I can’t walk this much every day, but I walk as much as I can, because you need nothing to walk, you spend nothing, you consume nothing, you emit nothing.

And yet you have everything."