Walking: Important to have time without purpose other than to be.
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For the full life experience, put down all devices and walk
by Aeon. To read their article, click here.
I think this article by Aeon is very important and I want to share why I think it is important to have time without purpose other than to be.
Compassion must include the self. In our western world, although it looks as if we are always self centred, in an odd way, the self is excluded by our society that buys, shops, does, goes. Money gives us a sense of mobility and the wealthier we are the more we can ‘do’. This very action that seems to be fulfilling the needs of a self in fact detract from receiving, or giving to one’s self.
Being deeply human means to be connected to those things that are natural and what is more natural than walking? Just recently I have been thinking about compassion and how that is related to family and how that in turn becomes our society. Caring is intrinsic to being human. Walking to be, is to walk with care, walking in a state of care and appreciation. It is beautiful and it is beautiful to be human.
Artists allow us to peer into the world through their eyes. Walking as an artist gives us this rare opportunity too. We might be detached while at the same time fully engaged as we move along. The mind is no longer in a state of intention — gathering facts or supplies or blessings, burning calories, being seen — but is instead in a state of attention.
Quoted from “For the full life experience, put down all devices and walk” and Edited by Sam Dresser.
