Once around this planet.

nobody@vox.com(pixler) — Sat, 03 May 2008 13:07:29 -0400

I’m celebrating a personal milestone, so to speak!

About nine years ago, a set of circumstances made me decide to park my car and become a pedestrian. It changed my life. Now I walk everywhere, do everything on foot. Rain or shine, hot or cold. No matter, I walk, each and every day of the year.

And frankly, I love it.

I love the outdoors, the fresh air, the people I encounter. I love sunshine and long walks, especially on summer evenings, down by the river, with my lady.

The other day, I thought I should calculate just how far I've walked over the years. Once I got the numbers in place, I was simply amazed with the results. I couldn't believe it; I even double-checked my Excel calculation, just to make sure.

I've actually walked a distance equivalent to once around this planet, at the equator. That's 24,902 miles, or 40,076 km, for the metric crowd.

I still can’t believe it.

For me, there are many benefits to walking, aside from the physical aspect. Walking becomes a state of mind, a very pleasant, relaxed frame of mind. I find it peaceful, it allows me to stop and smell the roses, gives me time to think.

One of the greatest benefits, I find, is the opportunity to encounter people, briefly share a moment with a stranger, while on transit or walking along a busy downtown street. It’s these random chance encounters that I cherish most, because you never know what new and exciting momentary adventure, lies just ahead.

Being a hobbyist photographer, with camera as a constant companion, walking offers me a chance to take lots of pictures. Since I can stop virtually anytime to capture something of interest, and since a good portion of my daily routine takes me through parkland en route to and from public transit, I get plenty of opportunity to snap off a few, on occasion, even before the work day begins.

I can truly say that being a pedestrian is one of the greatest experiences in my life and certainly the best thing I’ve ever done, for myself.

Thanks for sharing this milestone. Perhaps we’ll meet along the way.

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pixler’s blog

Once around this planet.