Walking

January 1st

Traditionally, for a second year in the row, I went for a mid-morning walk on New Year’s Day. It was only 12 kilometers today, and I stayed in the city on account of the thaw and a lot of rain over the last days — paths in the forests and fields are wet and muddy and almost unpassable. After I returned, I did check my walking stats for the last year and in 2021:

• I walked 4.590.560 steps
• that is 3.470 kilometers
• on average: 12.577 steps a day
• on average: 9.5 kilometers a day

And that is a LOT.

But in actuality, that is nothing in comparing to my walking stats from 2020 — that year I had 6.398.283 steps, 4.837 kilometers, an average of 17.626 steps a day — and all that including two months that I spent in the addiction therapy center where I hardly did any walking at all.

Well, my numbers were lower this year because I changed some things — I rode my bike more (weather permitting) and got a little more than a thousand kilometers on those rides. I got sweet wheels that I use more often than not — that is a little of laziness that I permit myself. Also — I did not fuel my walks with alcohol as I did in the previous years — and drinking was a purpose for many of my walks then.

Now my purpose is different. First — it is now my purpose only, not the need fuelled by addiction and craving for a substance reward. Second — I don’t need to beat or set any new records for myself. I actually don’t need to prove anything anymore. And third — even though I walk less, I see a lot more. I notice little things, scenes, urban or natural compositions that speak to me. My eyes record better what I see, my mind remembers better what I see, and I get more fulfillment now from my walks than ever before.

And this year is up to an excellent start.