There are times in life when we are stuck in a rut, when no matter how hard we seem to try, winning any progress at all appears overwhelmingly difficult. It might come down to a series of habits which we know are bad for us but we somehow continue to persevere in their daily practice, or we may be surrounded by people who resonate on different wavelengths to us. We may feel depressed at the state of the world, and the impending doom that media channels promise us is coming very, very soon. We feel helpless to change our circumstances and having any positive outlook on life seems ludicrous. We feel stuck on the metaphorical bus going nowhere.
‘The Bus Going Nowhere'‘, 2018. Pentax MX, Triax 400.
Now, the first thing that needs to be acknowledged about this scenario is that our situation may not be quite as desperate as it seems at first. While we may not want to be on this stationary bus, there are advantages to staying still for some time. If there is no destination, no outcome, there is no pressure, expectation or urgency. If there is no schedule, we cannot be late. If the bus isn’t moving, it doesn’t need fuel. Instead of rushing through the world, in a desperate hurry to arrive to our next appointment, we can simply remain on this bus, for as long as we wish, and observe the world. We can be the idle flaneur, with nothing better to do than simply take everything in.
After some time however, when we have well and truly convinced ourselves that this bus is definitely not going anywhere, we may be ready to take the next step. This is the realisation that it might be time to get off the bus and start walking somewhere. Anywhere.
‘Pencil Pines in the Walls’, 2019. Pentax MX, Triax 400.
I have found walking the most reliable way of transport available. So far, it has gotten me exactly where I have needed to go. Every time. Without fail. It may not be a fast way of getting around, but it is very dependable. I recently chatted to someone who walked the Three Capes track, on crutches, with a 28kg pack. He had a great time. Really, he did. Although he may chose to take less weight on his next hike.
‘The Sermon Seat’, 2018. Pentax MX, Triax 400.
My point is, even when it is difficult, walking is worthwhile. Part of the reason is that we are allowing the world to come at us at a pace in which we can comfortably process it. Walking gets us where we need to go. And in the process, we are able to observe all the subtle ways in which our surroundings change. They never quite stay the same, even when change is imperceptible.
Glacial valley in the South West, 2018’. Pentax MX, Triax 400.