Walking

Living in big cities for a lot of my life, I didn’t ever get a license or buy a car. I relied on the old 'PT' (public transport).

To be fair, pursuing the arts in Australia is also a pretty fast way to not be able to afford anything. Especially a car, registration, insurance, servicing and fuel.

So I walked. Everywhere.

Well, I also got a lot of lifts that I’ll probably never be able to repay in my lifetime.

Now that I reflect, to have had the time to walk everywhere has been a major luxury. 2km walk to work and then the same home. 15 mins to the train station to get to the city. Walk through the city and then the same home again. I really notice it now that I am house bound between four naps and I can barely leave the house.

In addition to this, I didn’t have an office job until I was 30 so I was constantly run off my feet working hospitality. It was a huge adjustment to be seated all day and I requested a standing desk from day one to help ease the blow.

I didn’t notice it then but I now know that it saved my life. I didn’t walk because of my health, I walked because I had no money to buy and maintain a car. But it has been the single most important daily activity I have ever done for my mental, creative and physical health.

This is my mood enhancer, how my ideas flow, and a huge part of how I regulate my nervous system.

During my second pregnancy it got way too hard for me to manage my own body and my tiny rogue toddler on walks outdoors and I had to stop. I really struggled with no longer getting this simple pleasure. So I bought a walking pad and walked indoors during nap time. Not the same but a good enough replacement.

I am now 4 months postpartum with bubs #2 and am starting to be able to get the gang out for walks again. The walks don’t look like they used to but it is fresh air and pounding the pavement.

Sometimes when everything lines up, I sneak out for a quick solo traipse around the block (blockie) and I feel pure bliss. When this particular luck strikes, I feel 16 again. As if I am headed to the bus stop with a whole day free to do whatever I please. Only it is 25 minutes.

Even though it royally sucked at times and I often felt less than, I’m kind of pleased I didn’t get my car until my mid thirties.

It helped to build a habit I didn’t even know that I needed. And I truly believe it’s the reason why I am always on time.