Thursday, April 3, 2008

Catch me if you can

Walking is one of my favorite activities. Even though I am not able to devote time for a morning or evening walk, I enjoy whatever walking I am able to accomplish during a day. I do not mind parking my car further away and taking few extra steps to enter my work building.

I think in any other part of the world except USA, people would do this activity, more out of necessity if not by choice. Seeing people walk also increases the vibrancy of a place. No wonder New York City and Mumbai are so electrifying.

In my younger days, I have walked 5 miles from a cousin's house to mine. In a nice evening, the walk would be gratifying and I would enjoy the small markets, parks and the residential complexes that came along the way. As a kid, I and my brother used to walk to school. I used to carry a school bag on my shoulders, holding its large strap/holder across my neck. According to my brother I used to walk so slow that he had to drag me with the strap. I think they stopped making those school bags now, which is good – reducing torture from elder siblings.

Years later, when I started working, I had a manager, who would zoom past like a breeze, actually tornado would be more appropriate. I could never figure out if a slow moving manager was better than a faster one. One can at least be prepared once a slow moving manager approaches one's desk. In case of the faster one, all you experience is a gust of wind in your way. But I assumed if he is zooming past, he would have little time to grasp what is shown in my screen. Now all these do not even matter.

Few months back, I watched the “Walk Marathon” held in New York City in the TV. The lady who came first had just become a new mother. She enjoyed walking so much that not even motherhood stopped her.

Recently people have told me that they see me only as a flicker as I go past them. To the extent that one of them asked me if I was a sprinter in school and if he can call me "PT Usha"! I never realized the increase in my gait. In my family, I know people who walk faster than me. I believe I picked up speed while trying to keep pace with them. In any case, if I can accomplish some exercise by just walking, I should be far from complaining.

6 comments:

aMus said...

sweet...:)

good for you...J...i love walking here in singapore...it really is a pleasure even if teh weather is warm sometimes...

happy walking...and hope your munchkins follow you fast enuf :)

ceedy said...

hehe

wish we can walk more right - its the best and easy exercise...

from mumbai and close to ny so do go there once in a while to walk walk walk......
and spring is almost here

rayshma said...

oh wow! awesome habit! :) really. i admire ppl who like walking...
i hate walking. actually, i hate all forms of exercise... except dancing & water aerobics...

Archana Bahuguna said...

Hey walking is always a pleasure. If you like walking so much, try participating in these marathons, just for fun especially if you have a bunch of friends to chat along.

I also supposedly walk fast as told by other people. In my case I think the reason is mostly lack of patience :-).

Jaya said...

TA: As long as I don't have to keep a pace with them :)

Ceedy: I always wanted to roller skate in NY. First let me atleast learn it :)

Rayshma: Wonder why you remibd me of my brother :)

Arc: Let me know marathon you are interested in, I would join :)

Geraldine said...

I love to walk almost as much as I love to run. Great thing about both, they hardly cost a thing to enjoy.

To evolve or not...