Monday, October 01, 2007

my walk

I walked at lunch today. It’s part of the new diet regimen.
I find it pleasant enough – it breaks up the day, and it’s not as involved as say… going to the gym.
Which I abhor.
It’s not that I don’t like to work hard. I would just prefer there to be a result of my hard work. O sure…weight loss, fitness, energy, blah blah – but I’d rather something a bit more tangible. Like say … I work really hard for a couple hours a day for a week or so and WALA there’s an addition on the house.
Or… I spend ½ hour in the morning and 20 minutes each afternoon and BINGO I’ve got a patio with outdoor grilling station – you see my point.

But the walking is fine.
I walked alone today – because my walking pal, J9, is a slacker (lets see if that gets her to comment). Since I was alone I had plenty of time with my own thoughts.
So I was walking along deep in thought weighing my options for the lawns fall feeding schedule when I noticed that most of the people walking alone had ipod-ish type things. (I almost typed ‘walkman’ ha!).

I pondered this.

Why do people listen to music as they walk? Does the beat motivate them? Do they change their pace when different songs come on? What type of music do they listen to? Do they silently sing along? Does it help to pass the time? I wondered if some people do it because they are uncomfortable doing things alone. I wondered if certain songs conjured memories… were they reminiscing as they walked. Did some songs make them sad… or happy? Some folks had ear buds, others had headphones – this made me think of the shape of my ears. I happen to have very large ears... well really its the lobes. Then I wondered which earrings I was wearing because I had forgotten. For a short time I played a little game where I tried to figure out which ones were in my ears without reaching up to find out. Then I saw a guy with a hat and wondered if he would have hat head by the time he got back to the office. I ended up behind a woman wearing her Ipod in one of those sporty armbands. I wondered if she had gotten it as a gift. Maybe on a holiday, maybe it was her birthday. Maybe they had cake that day. Cake has flour…and sugar – both of which are not on my diet. The walking is on my diet tho. Which is where this all started about ½ an hour ago. That's when I saw my reflection in the glass door to my office building and noticed which earrings I was wearing...

So…while someone singing sweetly in my ears for my ½ hour walk would be lovely –
I am thoroughly entertained by the tangents of my own thoughts.

I am glad I left my Ipod in the car.

11 comments:

WenWhit said...

Sometimes I listen to music in order to STOP thinking. While walking, though, it'd probably be due to boredom. Obviously you don't have that need.

chapin said...

I listen to music when I really need to be motivated and I go without when I'm out for a stroll enjoying mother nature.

clammy said...

I listen to the ipod to help pass the time and yeah, the faster the song, the faster I walk. btw, I'm exhausted just reading your questions. heh.

SassyFemme said...

Oh the workings of that brain of yours make me giggle.

I also walk at lunch most days (on hold at the moment 'til they catch nasty stalker guy near the high school down the road). I started out not using my iPod, it never crossed my mind. Soon I noticed a number of people from big company down the road walking, wearing theirs. Most days I wear it now, unless I've been with the little kids all morning and just need some quiet time in my head. The music tends to put an extra zip in my step, and makes the time go by quickly and enjoyably.

Anonymous said...

Here in NYC it is mandatory that you wear an ipod.Even the homeless have them. I shit you not. There is a homeless woman who sits near the subway shuttle entrance in Grand Central every day with her ipod on and a cup held out. She probably uses the $ to download songs from the laptop I am sure she has stashed under the milk crate she sits on. Where does she charge her ipod I wonder?
I wear my ipod on the train so people won't try and talk to me, I don't turn it on most days, but it keeps the weirdos away. Maybe I am the weirdo??

Val said...

How your mind works... it's fun to travel along with those thoughts of yours! :)

The beat of the music does help to keep the pace up...

Zoe said...

I walk during my lunch everyday and I have for about 10 years now. I started because I walk my dog, now dogs, but I love that time alone. I would never wear headphones, I love that time to myself, but I've always been a bit of a dreamer.

Middle Girl said...

I don't have an ipod (or other type player) but I wouldn't wear it while I walked, which is why I'm in no hurry to get one. Years ago I bought a cassette -for walking- the music was too distracting. I like and need to be alert while walking. I can be a klutz without really trying.

maxine said...

What will you be eating next weekend when the rest of us are eating bacon?

sporksforall said...

I like music while walking. It propels me along somehow. Cycling, on the other hand, is all about wind in ears. That's the best sound of all.

Suzanne said...

Your body may need to diet but your mind sure keeps in shape. :)