I’ve had a lot of jobs in the past ten years and a lot of crazy commutes. I developed epilepsy in 2014 and since have had to walk or take the T wherever I go. One of the worst commutes was when I had to wake up at 4:30a, walk a mile from Swampscott to the Lynn busway to take the 455 to Wonderland, then took the Blue-line to the green to the red, then walked another mile to get to work in Cambridge by 6:00a. It wasn’t ideal, but I got use to it. And over the years I’ve come to enjoy walking. Don’t get me wrong, getting a ride is equally as pleasant, but walking has so many benefits which makes it enjoyable and worth the while. Let’s explore some of them.
Bright Sights, not Blank Stares
We all know that walking is good for your physical health but what about our mental health? In this article from Nuffield Health, author Lisa Gunn explains that walking in nature is known to reduces Anxiety levels. This tracks for me because most of my anxiety stem from what I’m thinking. So getting outside helps clear my mind.
For example when I set out for my destination on foot I usually pop in some headphones, and go. My thoughts don’t wander much and I stay focused on the road ahead or the scenery around me. I think of the route I’m taking, the detours that may come up and the rhythm of my tunes. Plus I’m not staring blankly at my phone which can be anxiety provoking.
A good summation of what I’m talking about is if you’ve ever commuted to work in the morning on public transportation you would probably have notice that everyone is wearing black. Along with the uniform choice of color they also stare at their phones. Neck craned down, eyes lifeless… The people on the commuter rail do not look happy. And if you break free from your screen you’ll notice that not only are they occupied with their devices, but they also look angry or in morning (this would explain the black). Only a handful of people are actually connecting, having a conversation or smiling. So why are we punish ourselves by compulsively staring blankly at our screens?
My suggestion is to walk or ride the bus if it’s an option. We talked about the benefits of walking already, and people are just friendlier on the bus. More conversations, more action and movement. The bus feels alive. But I think there’s also a stigma around the bus and walking. As though only the less privileged ride the bus or walk while the affluent ride the rails. Like an ex of mine use to say, people think everyone in Boston has a wicked bad Boston accent. But it’s most often a socio-economic divide {and originated in Dorchester I think). Same goes for the bus and walking. But those people look happier. So who is really privileged?
My advice to you commuters is to put the phone away during your commute. Look out the window and focus on what you see. If that makes you uncomfortable start with only ten minutes of phone free time. What do you notice, how do you feel? Is someone wearing a piece of clothing that catches your attention?
I once saw a woman on the train wearing a pair of cable knit boots and asked her where she got them. She said they were Uggs, we had a nice chat, we parted ways feeling better and I got a great pair of shoes from our convo. Here’s a link to the ones I have only mine are brown. I wear them so often that I need to get them resoled. But let’s get back to what we may see if we hoof it.
Stop & Smell the Snow covered Trees
Along with writing, I also work at my local Starbucks. It isn’t too far from my house, only a 20 minute walk. It can be frustrating at times like when it snows, but only when the sidewalks aren’t plowed or it’s 15° out.
But this morning while I was walking to Starbucks to get some writing done I ran into these guys. This is out front my local Stop & Shop and by the Bass River which runs behind the grocery chain. I thought the images were stunning. Trees mixed with the city lights or backed by nature, covered in a fresh, crisp coat of snow. They speak for themselves. Something I would have missed if I were driving.
Sure, walking has it’s draw backs. For example I once had to walk two miles both ways to get to the yoga studio where my class was held. I remember one night it was probably 9° and I was def under dressed. I couldn’t feel any of my body parts by the time I got to class. And the studio wasn’t much warmer. As my friend Jenny would say, “none of the buenos”.
But if you think about it you also run into frustrations while driving too. Traffic jams, that jerk just cut you off, you had to clean your car off from the 4″ of snow you got the previous night which made you so mad you missed the beautiful trees… There’s gonna be frustration in any commute. So why not do something healthy for your mind and body and make it worth the while.
Arriving at Your Destination
I know this isn’t possible for everybody. Sometimes you need to drive and that’s a good option to have. But for someone who walks everywhere there are a hell of a lot of cars on the road that probably don’t need to be. So in that spirit, if you can’t walk to work maybe instead of jumping in your car to pick up your morning beverage, go for a stroll to get your coffee or tea if it’s only a quarter mile away. See what it’s like on the other side of the windshield. Aside from maybe the sidewalks needing a good plow it’s a pretty easy going. And all of those benefits add to your mental health and how you move through, and view the world around you. See you on the road 🙂 Peace & Thanks for Reading🏔️🌙
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