When I moved to Washington DC, I often received the question: Why? Did I move for a job? No. Did I move for school? No. I moved here for a variety of reasons. Namely, I desired to uproot my life, I had good friends living there, and I wanted to live in a walkable city. I envisioned myself walking along a tree lined street with a wicker basket full of flowers and clementines that I picked up from my local farmers market. The reality check is how I currently lug home my heavy tote bags on my 2 block walk to Trader Joe’s but the effect is the same. I love walking.
I love my 30 minute walk to work and back. Knowing I get to walk home after dinner is half the reason I go out to dinner. And yes, I even walk to and from the farmer’s market on Saturdays when I can. Walking as transportation is unencumbered. All I have to do is put one foot in front of the other until I get to my destination and I can even listen to music, podcasts, articles, or books while I do it. It has its limitations, anything over a 2 mile walk to a destination is daunting for me and it can be weather dependent, but the benefits absolutely outweigh the cons.
I have spent the past month watching “Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy.” If we talk frequently, this won’t be news because I simply can’t shut up about it. But if you’re unfamiliar with the show - America’s Finest, Stanley Tucci, travels around the 20 regions of Italy highlighting the country’s food and culture. In the most recent episode I watched, I was introduced to the term La Passeggiata. A passeggiata is the practice of leisurely strolling along the main street of a town in the company of family or friends. A social ritual focused on being with loved ones, seeing your town, and (if taken after a meal as intended) digesting. You may have seen this on TikTok in a more unsavory term, called a fart walk. Since we are readers and writers of class, we will call it a passeggiata.
When I heard this term on the show I needed to know more because I felt it encapsulated exactly what I love about walking - benefiting your health while being outside and soaking in your surroundings. Ever since the pandemic, I’ve felt an uptick in an emphasis on getting your 10,000 steps a day. It decreases risk for heart disease, obesity, and depression, according to the Mayo Clinic. For someone with PCOS, it’s likely one of the best workouts I can do with its low impact effectiveness. But I’m not here to sell you on using walking as a workout, I’m here to rave about the mental health benefits of it.
I’ve been challenging myself to silent walks and it’s certainly a trial. I already struggle with quiet time, constantly feeling the need to play a podcast, music, or a youtube video when I’m at home and my walks are no different. However, especially on my morning walks, I find it to be a peaceful ritual to go for a short walk without listening to anything. Not to go all Disney princess on you but I enjoy hearing the birds chirping and the city waking up. It helps me feel more present, as I’m able to hear the honking and yelling that comes with living in a metropolitan area. While it's more often than not that I wear my headphones, a silent walk has been beneficial in spending more time with myself.
Last year I wrote a blog post and included a quote from Tuck Everlasting about the climb to August and the stillness of this month. Being present is a continual goal of mine and my walks help me achieve it. There are still small things I can work on - more silent walks, not counting down the seconds until the walk signal is going to change, and slowing down when I do walk. But baby steps (no pun intended.) Whether it be a daily commute, a hot girl walk, a fart walk, or una passeggiata, I hope this short essay has convinced you to go on a little walk along the block or start incorporating daily walks into your routine. And if you’re my sister reading this - don’t walk another half marathon without training or you’ll hurt your knee again.
What I’ve been reading:
The Ballerina Farm profile, a look into the world of “trad wives”
The Throne of Glass series (a reread with my sister)
NYT Reader’s Picks: 100 Best Books of the 21st Century
My daily Axios DC Newsletter. You should check if they have one for your city, it’s helped me feel a lot more in the know with what’s happening around me.
P.S. I did a little rebrand of this blog so things may look a little different. As always, thank you for reading!