v6.2: each day, a balloon blooms in my heart

2011-12-26 2:42 p.m.
"Just Walk"

Song of the Moment:
香格里拉 by 魏如萱 (Hebe version: link)

In recent travels, one too many times, it seems I have told my travel mates to 'just walk' when we're trying to find a destination in an unknown land (I think they can attest, perhaps too strongly, to this). This happens especially when we're in cities... Though I guess it's pretty much pointless to try and navigate a rural area on foot.

It's occurred to me, in this tiny, non-too-lavish Tokyo hotel room at the end of a week-long family holiday as part of a tour group, that this increasingly reflects my attitude towards life.

*****

'Just walk' usually occurs when we've identified a location of interest, and I've taken a look at the map, and am supposed to lead the way there. It's quite some distance and there's no way I could've figured it out completely in that one glance. During these times I'm usually 50% sure about the turns/ directions I'm taking, though it must be said that I tend to be 70% right (mwahaha). And the other 30% of the time, we manage to get there anyway, albeit with some pain, or better still, we find something better to do.

This 'method', understandably, is likely to cause some anxiety amongst my travel mates, but I think they've since gotten used to it. Not everyone will be so understanding or patient, so I'm grateful to them, I really am. Haha.

*****

But I 'just walk' because I've come to realise that spending your time with your face stuck in a map and being all nervous about getting lost is just no fun at all.

Quite clearly, one misses out on the beauty of the surrounding, or passing scenery. Buildings, monuments, schools, all become but landmarks en route to THE destination. Satisfaction is derived not from the journey but from the arrival at the destination. I'm not much of a multi-tasker (though I sure try multi-tasking too often), and it'll be virtually impossible for me to focus on being 100% on target, and truly observe, absorb, and appreciate the surroundings at the same time.

What makes 'just walk'ing all the more worthwhile is that my level of satisfaction is no longer hinged solely on the delivery of the destination. More often than not tourist locations are disappointing, and if all my efforts had been directed at locating the place, only to be met with something sub-standard, that's enough of a killjoy for the day. The more one commits to achieving a goal, the more one feels cheated when the goal's not all it was made up to be.

Most importantly, 'just walk'ing takes away some of the responsibility I feel for finding the right, the best, the fastest way to getting to the location. There is less expectation, whether from those accompanying me or myself, for us to actually end up where we had intended to, in the shortest time via the most scenic route etc. There's no fear of missing out on the must-sees (as stated in book ABC pg. 123). In short, life's easier and less stressful when I choose to 'just walk', and I feel like a get a better appreciation of what it's like to, maybe not live, but exist and survive in that city.

*****

Of course, it's possible that my travel partners will feel like I'm wasting precious minutes and seconds... Time paid for by that air ticket, the days of leave taken. It may well feel like we're wandering without a plan, idling away when there are better things to be done. I guess that's why people always say we've got to pick the right travel-mates.

After all that babbling, I guess all of the above can be summed up as follows: it's not the end but the journey that matters, so pay more attention to the journey and keep the end in mind, but don't be too bothered about arriving at it. Now take that and apply it to life. I'm getting lazy here, and I think it's easy to get the idea.

Man, is my writing deteriorating!


2011-12-26. "Just Walk" 2011-09-24. The Languages of My Life 2011-02-13. One Liners 2011-01-25. 25 Days into the New Decade of the New Century 2010-11-21. Of Future Selves and Catharsis
			2011-12-26 2:42 p.m. "Just Walk" Song of the Moment: 香格里拉 by 魏如萱 (Hebe version: link) In recent travels, one too many times, it seems I have told my travel mates to 'just walk' when we're trying to find a destination in an unknown land (I think they can attest, perhaps too strongly, to this). This happens especially when we're in cities... Though I guess it's pretty much pointless to try and navigate a rural area on foot. It's occurred to me, in this tiny, non-too-lavish Tokyo hotel room at the end of a week-long family holiday as part of a tour group, that this increasingly reflects my attitude towards life. *** 'Just walk' usually occurs when we've identified a location of interest, and I've taken a look at the map, and am supposed to lead the way there. It's quite some distance and there's no way I could've figured it out completely in that one glance. During these times I'm usually 50% sure about the turns/ directions I'm taking, though it must be said that I tend to be 70% right (mwahaha). And the other 30% of the time, we manage to get there anyway, albeit with some pain, or better still, we find something better to do. This 'method', understandably, is likely to cause some anxiety amongst my travel mates, but I think they've since gotten used to it. Not everyone will be so understanding or patient, so I'm grateful to them, I really am. Haha. * But I 'just walk' because I've come to realise that spending your time with your face stuck in a map and being all nervous about getting lost is just no fun at all. Quite clearly, one misses out on the beauty of the surrounding, or passing scenery. Buildings, monuments, schools, all become but landmarks en route to THE destination. Satisfaction is derived not from the journey but from the arrival at the destination. I'm not much of a multi-tasker (though I sure try multi-tasking too often), and it'll be virtually impossible for me to focus on being 100% on target, and truly observe, absorb, and appreciate the surroundings at the same time. What makes 'just walk'ing all the more worthwhile is that my level of satisfaction is no longer hinged solely on the delivery of the destination. More often than not tourist locations are disappointing, and if all my efforts had been directed at locating the place, only to be met with something sub-standard, that's enough of a killjoy for the day. The more one commits to achieving a goal, the more one feels cheated when the goal's not all it was made up to be. Most importantly, 'just walk'ing takes away some of the responsibility I feel for finding the right, the best, the fastest way to getting to the location. There is less expectation, whether from those accompanying me or myself, for us to actually end up where we had intended to, in the shortest time via the most scenic route etc. There's no fear of missing out on the must-sees (as stated in book ABC pg. 123). In short, life's easier and less stressful when I choose to 'just walk', and I feel like a get a better appreciation of what it's like to, maybe not live, but exist and survive in that city. *** Of course, it's possible that my travel partners will feel like I'm wasting precious minutes and seconds... Time paid for by that air ticket, the days of leave taken. It may well feel like we're wandering without a plan, idling away when there are better things to be done. I guess that's why people always say we've got to pick the right travel-mates. After all that babbling, I guess all of the above can be summed up as follows: it's not the end but the journey that matters, so pay more attention to the journey and keep the end in mind, but don't be too bothered about arriving at it. Now take that and apply it to life. I'm getting lazy here, and I think it's easy to get the idea. Man, is my writing deteriorating!