Essay: For the full life experience, put down all devices and walk

This essay is a beautifully crafted articulation of the art of walking. The writers shine a light and then position a looking glass on the simple act of walking. They are gently exhorting us to reject technology for walking purposes and revisit what it means to be human. We are at a unique time in evolution where we are being challenged by technocrats to change the old ways and let these new tools become our master. Our challenge in the Order of Walkers is to maintain the course of the old ways and so nurture a simple, small footprint, satisfying life.

Of course the irony of walking is not lost on me. You go out walking to think. You think of great ideas around technology, which distorts the purpose and purposelessness of walking in the future.

I commend this essay to the Order and may you dwell on its sentiments when you next take the path.

By John Kaag Susan Froderberg – For the full life experience, put down all devices and walk. theweek.com

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

— Robert Frost 1915

Autumn 2020: The Evening Constitutional

What is a constitutional ? It’s an old time expression referring to one’s vitality, health and strength. Often a purposeless walk for some fresh air and limited exercise for one’s general well being. Over exertion is not encouraged.

The covid 19 pandemic has wreaked havoc with capitalism around the world. It has changed the evening constitutional in a positive way and I am now cherishing these night time wanders around my district. Our population is heeding the exhortation to stay at home and as such our night time suburban streets are filled with the quiet of a small country town. Early on, when daylight saving was still alive there were many people out wandering after their dinner, but since the return to normal time the streets are vacant after dark. Traffic noise, that normally backgrounds the landscape is non existent, noisy neighbours and loud music playing from cars or houses is bygone.

We are now in the easter week, and a full moon decorates the evening sky. I am seeing both ring tail and brushtail possums emerging from their daylight hiding places and doing their fancy trapeze work over powerlines to trees. As I descend into gullies I can feel the change of temperature and hear the sweet song of frogs in darkened water bodies. I still notice the light pollution, too much precious energy is wasted on keeping lights on for the people who are not around to use it. Some dogs are being walked by masters who have giant headphones on without wires. The poor dog. How does he communicate with his master? Are we breeding a generation of dogs that in the future will exhibit security and detachment issues that will require years of therapy.

Then of course we have the earthlings that walk with smartphones out in front of them at a non rhythmic pace doing god knows what. The evening constitutional is not about taking your phone for a walk. It is not a good look and for those guilty of it consider yourself chastened. The evening constitutional is everything else. It’s deliberate breathing, it’s going in a direction you may not have been before, it’s about discovery of your neighborhood, maybe a chat with the old bloke at the end of the road, maybe a pat of the leashed dog on the end of the big pair of headphones.

In any case this is a special time in our history. This will all be over soon enough and the din of capitalism will once again return. Enjoy the respite and take an evening constitutional.

– The Provost

Podcast: An Account of Everest

James Strofeldt is a surgeon and psychotherapist from Melbourne, Australia, and a climber for over thirty years. This twenty five minute interview was originally broadcast on RN’s blueprint for living segment “Lost and Found”. James articulates his deep connection to being outside and gives us an insight into the high altitude mountain climber. A great interview.

https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/blueprintforliving/lost-and-found-%E2%80%94-everest/12115114

Essay: A step at a time towards appreciating nature

This essay by Canadian, Tian Ren Chu, is a grand articulation of both the importance and joy of walking. Discussing and promulgating the connection to nature, is critical to future generations. You don’t destroy the things you love. You fight for them. It appears tech companies want us to walk around with ear pieces and phones, and be servant to trivial notifications. I fear this is creating social isolation and divide. We are in danger of losing what it is to be human. I commend this piece to the Order of Walkers and I commend the practise to all.

The Art Of Walking

Picking up sticks

Scratch your head, ponder a while. Make of it what you will.

I have two issues with this media release.

If you look closely at the image there are some incredibly large lumps of wood which are clearly not walking sticks. There are also a lot of really poor looking sticks in the pile which I suspect a walker would not willingly choose. What is the mass under the pile like?

Secondly if Parks staff left the sticks at the trail heads, walkers would recycle one of these sticks for their direction of travel and hence not contribute to the removal of wood. End of argument. Back to real work for Parks staff, Game, Set and Match. Don’t bother me with your social media posts.

Read it here