Walk

Realisations at times happen in the least of anticipated situations.

There used to be a concept of walk until chain/bag snatching fear came in. Although that hasn't quite really made an impact, but definitely it provides an alibi for the lazy/non willing. Learning from the wise, these days when I am on some workout regimen, I tend to walk to do my work whenever feasible. Last evening, presented an opportunity and I was walking my way to the market.

Its a good thing to walk, somehow it has always had a calming effect and left my mind less agitated. In trance, observing around and walking through, I see a milkman struggling to raise his fallen bullet motorcycle fully loaded with milk drums. I walked to him and helped. I moved on, bought the stuff and walked back. Had a few boiled eggs at roadside vend before returning.

It struck me, had I been on my truck would I have been able to notice (one), and if noticed, would I be willing to spare time to help (two) and if I was willing, would I have been able to stop traffic wise speaking (three) ? All these options, are me speaking with an open mind; majority of people out there in cars, would simply ignore without even thinking.

This got me thinking. If people were just walking to wherever (like it used to be back in the day), it would present them with more opportunities to interact with strangers. All at the same level, the exchange would have ensured a communion of sorts with fellow humans. But the physical comfort of driving to our destinations in our own box and in our own space, has deprived us of that communion. It has pushed us into isolation. There is a cost to pay. I mean it would be the least visible or least anticipated of costs, but its there.

Nothing is free.