We Stopped Walking. And That’s a Problem.
When was the last time you walked with the purpose of reaching a destination?
I’m not talking about walking purely for the sake of walking, or even walking for the sake of relaxation. Not a stroll in the park or a walk in your neighborhood.
I’m talking about a walk to get from point A to point B. A walk specifically designed to travel, to reach, to get to.
When I think about my own life, it’s clear that I rarely walk with the purpose of reaching a destination. I’m always driving.
If you live in the United States, you know that we’ve created a culture that’s centered around the car.
Don’t get me wrong—I love driving a car as much as anyone. The automobile is perhaps the greatest invention (dare I say even more impactful than airplanes?) that has shaped mankind over the last two centuries.
But cars remove our human limits. We are no longer limited by our own two feet. We are no longer limited to mere steps. We are no longer limited by the terrain or obstacles that stand in our way.
But we’re limited in how we interact with each other.
Walking is a vulnerable endeavor. It requires interaction with our environment; one walker must notice another walker, and the walkers, if they pass, must interact in…
