Things I've learned while walking

1. 91

   Pcunixposted 12 years ago

   Small foot pain goes away. Blisters don't.
   
   People who drive toward with the sun bouncing off their windshield think you can see them and will later complain that you were unfriendly.
   
   People who drive toward you when the sun is in your eyes think the same thing, so smile at everybody.  It will piss off the people who don't like you and make the others either happy or confused, so it's all good.
   
   People with smelly trucks or smelly motorbikes have no idea how noxious they are.  They also don't understand why you don't want them to stop to talk to you while their exhaust poisons you.
   
   Always walk facing traffic.  Always.
   
   Smile at everyone but give people with dogs a wide berth.  If it's dark and sparsely populated, give women a wide berth too as you just might be making them nervous.
   
   Cringing from the cold makes it colder.  Stick out your chest and point your chin defiantly at the wind.  Stare down the cold!
   
   What else?

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   1. 75

      WriteAngledposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      THANK YOU!
      
      If I may add: if it is possible to cross the street and walk on the other side, do that rather than walking directly behind the woman. If you can, walk briskly so you can pass her and continue on your way. Don't keep looking at her while passing her. Please do not try to start a conversation; a dark empty street is just not the right place for being sociable.

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      1. 91

         Pcunixposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, I like to make plenty of noise when coming up behind anyone and especially a woman.  I walk quickly so I can come up on them fast.  I'll whistle a tune, kick up some dirt, and yes, cross the street if it is safe.

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   2. 0

      Brenda Durhamposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Carry a stick in case there are stray dogs that might bite you.

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2. 68

   Peter Hogganposted 12 years ago

   Always carry your wallet and a toothbrush when out walking. Once you regain your sense of freedom you may not want to return to where you set out from.

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3. 90

   wordscribe43posted 12 years ago

   Sadly, that there is a lot more litter in this world than I'm comfortable with.  I always carry a bag with me to collect what I can...  You can't believe what I've found out in the wild.

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   1. 91

      Pcunixposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Ahh, that's a good one!

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4. 0

   Brenda Durhamposted 12 years ago

   Walking is more fun if there's another person walking with ya.

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   1. 91

      Pcunixposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      True.  Years back, my wife and I walked five miles or more every night after dinner, good weather or bad. It was our adventure, it was time together to hold hands and talk. Those were some of the best times of our life.
      
      Sadly, she can't walk with me any more. She's in too much pain.  I therefore don't go out as often or for as long because I feel both lonely and guilty without her.  I try to fit it in when she's busy with friends or off at her doctors.
      
      I miss walking with her and she misses it too.  We talk about it sometimes, but that's hard too.  The memories are good but knowing we are denied them now is painful.

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      1. 0

         Brenda Durhamposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I'm sorry to hear that.  It must've been nice to walk together. 
         My husband won't walk with me.  He doesn't know what he's missing.  Well, he would walk, he says, if we first drove to some big park that has an official walking path.  I say that defeats the purpose and takes away some of the fun.  But anyway.  I walk with a lady/neighbor across the street.  We walk to the middle of town, Post Office, etc., and around the block.  Gets us outta the house and exercises our various limbs (her limited hip and my limited-motion R.A.-stiff legs and arms.)
         
         This is a neat thread.  Walking is good for people.  We do refrain from doing the "power walk" though.  Have you ever seen anyone do that?  It's comical.  Besides, we'd probably end up on our rears if we tried it. ha.

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         1. 91

            Pcunixposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            It is a neat thread.  Look, you and I, mortal enemies.. well no, not that, but certainly often holding strongly opposed opinions, here we are with something in common that we can share.
            
            It's nice.  Pretend that I just passed by you and your friend, giving you wide berth of course, but waved and smiled hello.  We're sharing.
            
            And yeah, your husband is missing out.  Tell him that nasty atheist from HubPages said so :-)

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            1. 0

               Brenda Durhamposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               lol will do.
               
               Just waving HI as you said.

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         2. 91

            rmcrayneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            You're right, it is very comical looking. I always thought it looked like there would be additional wear & tear on the hips.  That's a good reason not to do it (besides having to get over "the world doesn't revolve around me" and feeling silly doing it).

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5. 65

   2uesdayposted 12 years ago

   Beware of puddles, not because you will step in them but because cars will be driven through them and the drivers will delight in soaking you or be oblivious to the fact that they have done so.

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   1. 91

      Pcunixposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Ooh, another good one!

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6. 59

   Miss Mposted 12 years ago

   The sky is quite beautiful...

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7. 65

   2uesdayposted 12 years ago

   Up hill is harder work than down hill.

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8. 89

   RedElfposted 12 years ago

   Take your cell phone. Probably more for women than men, but it's best to let someone know when you leave and when you will probably be back (just in case) - especially if walking at night.

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9. 61

   prettydarkhorseposted 12 years ago

   it is ok to look down, you might never know what you gonna get, a treasure perhaps. I remember when I was a kid and I saw a 100 bill on the pavement, I gave it to my mom.

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10. 61

    MPG Narrativesposted 12 years ago

    I walk with a friend every Sunday morning, it's our time to chat and solve the problems of the world, lol. We hate when other people walk to close to us and usually speed up or walk across the road. It's strange but it feels like they are invading our personal space.
    
    I also walk my dog during the week and have doggy bags with me and occasionally (I know this may sound gross) I pick up other dogs poop as well if it's close to Sassie's. I really hate dog owners who don't clean up after their own dogs!

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11. 39

    TheTrueYouposted 12 years ago

    You can learn a lot about yourself when walking a short distance.

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12. 60

    Repairguy47posted 12 years ago

    I have learned that you should always be looking down while walking in the woods, rattlesnakes are sometimes very quiet.

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    1. 84

       rebekahELLEposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       But you may walk into a giant spider web with a banana spider waiting quietly - unless your son yells, Mom, stop!   I'm glad he was with me on that adventurous walk through the woods in back of our property.   I love to walk, it's a simple, healthy pleasure.

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       1. 91

          Pcunixposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          I had to look up banana spider.  Large, generally harmless.. I hate when they say "generally", don't you?

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       2. 60

          Repairguy47posted 12 years agoin reply to this

          I can deal with the spider, that snake is a little more serious.

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13. 65

    2uesdayposted 12 years ago

    I have also learned that when you are trying to walk through mud or on ice if you start to slip there is no elegant way to go.

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    1. 91

       Pcunixposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Sure you can.. well, maybe not :-)

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14. 96

    wildernessposted 12 years ago

    Take a small child with you if possible.
    
    They will love walking with you, talking and just being with you.
    
    They also have a different view of the world, both physically and mentally.  When was the last time you stopped to closely examine an ant?  Or peer into a curb drain?  When did you last view the world from kneecap height?  When was the last time you laughed at a rock going PLOOSH! in the creek?
    
    It is educational and very entertaining.

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    1. 91

       Pcunixposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Good idea..  though make sure you don't just grab a random child.  People tend to react badly to that..

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       1. 96

          wildernessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            So true, so true.  Better make it one of your own.

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15. 89

    gracenotesposted 12 years ago

    I walk my two dogs nearly every day (they are walked separately).  These days, I am working on canine obedience, so I am very conscious of how well my dog is heeling. I probably do miss some things in my environment.
    
    Walking will really never be the "fun" it once was until I have little robot dogs that heel perfectly and ignore other dogs.
    
    I was trying to vary the speed last year with my toy poodle (I really tried to race walk with her), and I tripped on a crack in the sidewalk.  Fortunately, I fell forward, and braced my fall on the grass with my palms.  I let go of the leash automatically, but my poodle did not run off.
    
    Cell phones are good to take on a walk.  But I don't always do that.  I carry a garage door opener, dog waste bags, kleenex, and a container of pepper spray.  Sometimes I have a radio with me!
    
    Somewhere I still have a small bottle with a screw-off cap, in which you can secrete your name, address, and phone number.  It's on a cord you wear around your neck.

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    1. 91

       rmcrayneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Secrete your name, address, & phone number?!  How does that work?

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       1. 91

          Pcunixposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Alternate, less common, but certainly acceptable meaning - hide, conceal.

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16. 0

    Muldaniaposted 12 years ago

    I used to get terrible pain in my feet, until taking up walking, and yes, I agree it does make the pain disappear.

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17. 78

    Healthy Pursuitsposted 12 years ago

    Feeling the sensation of movement is good. I have Fibromyalgia so am always achy. However, I can turn that to advantage when I walk, as my achy muscles and tight tendons tell me where I need to stretch. Walking stretches both, and it lubricates joints. Giving a reminder of those good things helps with the positive feelings of walking.

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18. 64

    Greek Oneposted 12 years ago

    If a woman stops and speaks to you on the street and says you are attractive, the chances are good that she is a prostitute.

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    1. 91

       Pcunixposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       For ordinary people, of course.  Not for people like you and me, though.  More likely to be a heiress or a princess looking for a suitable mate..

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          Greek Oneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          money or our crown jewels.. they always want something

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19. 90

    Millionaire Tipsposted 12 years ago

    I learned that there are other people out there in the world besides the ones that are sitting in front of the computer.
    
    I really enjoy walking.  Every day is a new day, and the boring little park I go to looks different every day.

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20. 79

    mega1posted 12 years ago

    always remember to stop and smell the roses!
    
    times to go walking:  when the sun is rising
    when the moon is rising
    when you need to think
    when you need to not think
    when there is just a little rain
    when your bff wants to take a walk
    when your dog wants to take a walk
    when you want to look at something besides the computer screen
    when you want to breath some fresh air
    when you're trying to think of the next line of that poem
    when you're out of gas
    when you need to go get a really good espresso

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