"In my 13 years of taking walks in the United States, I could remember only ever seeing one native-born American taking a walk."
Where in the world does this man take walks? Down the median of I-5?
I have a hard time coming up with a reason that "taking a walk" must exclude walking the dog; taking with a friend; even chatting on the phone, though that's not my habit. Nor can I see why one may not pass anybody--in a walking part of the world does one end up with large queues of walkers with the tail end going slower and slower?
I write this having just walked in to work, a bit less than an hour, right around half an hour slower than riding the bus. Yes it is purposeful, but it is not the most time-efficient way of accomplishing the purpose.
I think the goal of taking a walk is similar to meditation -- empty out the consciousness for a while. Phones, dogs, friends talking, remembering a shopping list, etc don't do this well. The passing thing probably should not be considered as a hard rule, just as a loose guideline -- "if you are walking fast enough to pass someone walking with purpose, you are probably not really idling"
Where in the world does this man take walks? Down the median of I-5?
I have a hard time coming up with a reason that "taking a walk" must exclude walking the dog; taking with a friend; even chatting on the phone, though that's not my habit. Nor can I see why one may not pass anybody--in a walking part of the world does one end up with large queues of walkers with the tail end going slower and slower?
I write this having just walked in to work, a bit less than an hour, right around half an hour slower than riding the bus. Yes it is purposeful, but it is not the most time-efficient way of accomplishing the purpose.