Moving more, reading more

An update on my January 1 entry below. I (we’ve) sold the car I drove the most, the ‘95 Ford Escort. I did this, most, to make myself have to walk on a daily basis. I’ve been walking to work now for one week. I feel different. And things are changing. I have to think “lunch” in a different way. I have to bring it, or know I have to walk to get it, so I’m spending my lunch hour, now, staying in the office for large part. During my lunch hour, I’ve started to read. Coupled with my reading at lunch, I’ve decided to read, first, when I get home, before opening this laptop to see what news there is, in the internet worlds I inhabit (outside of the email I use profusely at work).

I’m discovering how much I’ve missed opening a book, how out-of-practice I am with turning pages and making my eyes follow the lines, as opposed to scrolling down the lines, of text before me. For the walking, I’m very much enjoying moving my legs in ways other than pressing an accelerator, clutch and brake.

It’s only a mile to work, about 16 minutes at a brisk pace. The surroundings are pleasant.

As for the rest of my January 1 list, it seems these two changes in my day-to-day bring the benefit of covering most of the other items. I’m thinking more by virtue of my spending about a half-hour walking and a couple hours reading. The reading brings things to mull over while I’m walking. I’m writing a little, though by “writing more” I meant time spent in “artful” writing pursuits, of which I don’t quite count this blog post. But by virtue of this blog post I am sharing more. And by virtue of the reading, walking, thinking and sharing, I find myself thinking on others with more love.

When I made the list, I didn’t realize I only had to make an attempt to change two of the items on it to have the rest start to fall into place. Stay tuned for further developments.

XOR