What my walk to work gives me
Filed under: maps, technology, walks, wellbeing, work
I’ve been a walker all my life, I don’t have a drivers license nor do I own a car. I will admit the only fear I have in life is a fear of driving however, through this fear I’ve discovered many opportunities that for me outweigh the negatives.
When I was a kid living in countryside Scotland we all walked everywhere. Sometimes we would ride our bikes, but it was easier to explore when you only had your feet. I love the time to think, the ability to really observe nature, people and life in general. Without the stress of focusing on driving I can think clearly and let my environment drive me to generate new ideas, new ways of appreciating things and most of all a sense of peace and respect for the world I live in.
When you walk and need to go long distances, there is a natural inclination to form games and little goals in your mind. “If I can get to there and see that, then I’ll go to there next and if I can walk farther than yesterday I will burn more calories.”
Music and walking are a match made in heaven. I love to listen to my favourite old songs that conjure up great memories and soothe my soul. What I don’t like doing when walking is talking on the phone, I find this disconnects me from my walk.
Another insight I can bring is I’ve found sharing a walk is a great way to chat with people who might not be as confident to sit face to face and talk as I am. Walking is great for social connection. Often people open up when they walk, and the physical changes in your body make for a healthy state of mind. This kind of exercise is great for the body and mind, and walking is low impact so it’s easy to avoid injury.
As a young adult I walked with my Grandmother, now I am a parent I walk with my wife and kids. I love to watch them explore and watch the excitement as they see things for the first time or things I sometimes miss or take for granted.
Walking gives me time to prepare for meetings, or a busy day. When I go somewhere new, walking shows me things drivers miss entirely. I have hundreds of my own mental walking maps of areas all over the world and I often find myself having wonderfully vivid flashbacks of walks I’ve taken decades ago. Don’t get me started on all the benefits of taking public transport…
Which brings me to the Walking Maps that I’ve discovered on via Victoria Walks. Victoria Walks has com a long way since I worked with them on the website back in 2009. With the use of my mobile phone’s camera and a free account on walkingmaps.com.au, now you can easily share your walking journies.
Visit here to see my walk to work on a map with photo story.
Why don’t you take some time to walk this summer, keep healthy and share your journey online using a walking map.
More information:
Brendan, this is a greast story and a wonderful walk, thanks very much for sharing.
We would love to see more walks created on our new Walking Maps. Maybe other Telstra employees arond Australia might be inspired to share their favorite walks (with photos) of their neighbourhoods, suburbs, towns and cities?
Here are a couple more walks that might interest in Apollo Bay http://www.walkingmaps.com.au/IndividualWalkAction.action?walkId=47
Brisbane http://www.walkingmaps.com.au/IndividualWalkAction.action?&walkId=66
Fitzroy http://www.walkingmaps.com.au/IndividualWalkAction.action?walkId=5
Thanks again
Ben
Brendan you speak my story.
I too have a fear of cars and driving. I did get my “Ls” but that soon expired. Can’t say I didn’t try. I too walk with music in my ears however at times I stop the music to enjoy the sounds around me, birds singing and children laughing… Heaven.
Ben,
A great walk I often do is from the north end of Burnley street Richmond to Dights Falls (http://bit.ly/sBA6YM). This includes walking past The Abbotsford Convent(http://www.abbotsfordconvent.com.au/) and through Childrens Farm (with cafe for a pitt stop) (http://farm.org.au/)…. It’s great.
Larry,
We would love to see your walk loaded on Walking Maps!
Ben
Glad to hear I’m not the only one who can admit a distaste for driving. Hey Larry, Ben’s right. It would be great to see you load up your walk. I used to live right near your walk journey in Clifton Hill. Lovely park there near the river. The hot air balloons often used to set down there in the mornings.
I love walking. I like the Qld Governments campaign of “Swap it, don’t stop it” encouraging people get off the bus a few stops early and walk the rest of the way to work.
Great article Brendan! I hope it encourages more people to get out there!
Thanks April, I also love that campaign. I used to get off the bus 15 mins before work. Now I walk to the train and then on to work because I needed a change but also as you can see in my photostory, there is a park on the way. The train then gives me a chance to read which is another love of mine. With my tablet and Kindle for Android, I can have numerous ebooks on the go .Now I read about 3-4 books a month just in my free time on PT.
For a year following the Black Saturday fires I worked from Prospect St, near your workplace, and spent many lunch breaks wandering the area – reminded me somewhat (good memories) of when I lived overseas!! For a while I cycled to there from Templestowe but eventually the sum of near misses getting to that side of the freeway scared me back to the car.
Yesterday I was there for lunch and a wander. I guess you had a day off as your blog went quiet!!
Hi Brendan, I am very much the same, am in my mid-30′d and do not drive, never have. Never even went for my L’s.
I live in a smallish rural community on the cusp of the Outback, and i find everything is in walking distance (up to about 3-4 km) and the heat does not really bother me.
I live 2.5km from my workplace and in the mornings, it is nice to walk in the cool clear air of the country, and watch the Outback wake up for the day.
WOW! 2.5 K each way. That’s dedication. I’ll bet the walk back can be tough on these 40+ days.
Damien, would love to see your walk loaded onto our Walking Maps with photos of walking on the cusp of teh outback!
No problems – I’ll be able to get some up within the next couple of weeks…. but not today, as it is 37C and I am still in holiday mode :p