My walk between the humans
I live in a small village. I need 5 minutes of walk to work. I even do not have my own car here. I use the company car only when I need, mostly for working reasons. But I avoid to use it for my own private scope.I have too much free time so I need to consume it. I developed a daily routine. I walk every day to the supermarket and buy food. Just for one day. So I am forced to do it every day. I need at least one hour for this. So I walk calm, having a backpack, looking around, watching people, houses and gardens. The road to the supermarket lies close to a field. Amazing how fast the plants are growing. Now is the second culture. Sometimes I see also hawks. This road is forbidden for cars so one can enjoy the silence.
Slowly you get closer to the supermarket so the noise is increasing. Cars are rising on the horizon and the agitation take the place of the silence.
For entering the supermarket I walk through the entire parking. People with bags, in hurry, preoccupied of their own lives, never look around. They never have time. In the supermarket the same. Running around, from one place to the other. I have all the time. I have also the time to watch them. And I do it.
I ask myself if I will find between them an interesting person. What about an interesting woman? But I give up. I have the feeling the people are somehow in another world. A parallel world which has no connection with mines. They are fascinated of what they are doing. Driven by their needs, desires and lack of time.
Someone told me once. “Look to the people and tell me what you see? Are they aware of what happen around them? Or they are sleeping?”
Sometimes happen that I smile and someone smiles back. I would like talking to the people. But what should I tell them? All what we have in common is that we are human beings, nothing more. I have time and they do not have. I am present and see them. They are not and I do not exist for them.
So I return to my road. I am walking back beside "my" corn field and my beautiful hawk.
Comments (20)
when I see the same thing in my community I feel surrounded and very alone. Many moons I wrote a poem about that but unfortunately lost it. Perhaps I should post something again related to it.
Who tried to observe this?
For calm down one need to breath slow and deep. For meditation one need to sit still. Also walking does not mean to run. The scope is to feel well and enjoy .... whatsoever
@ Usha,
Where in Africa did you reside, and why move?
When walking you do take more note of your surroundings - what flowers are blooming in the gardens; what birds are flying around; what birds have had cute chicks in springtime; even which streets have an incline. These things you don't really notice in a car.
I feel more awake and alive after walking than I would if I had driven.
Here, people say a hello on the street. Not necessarily a conversation (although some would if encouraged), but a quick greeting or smile on passing.
Malawi, fantastic place.
I was there many moons ago when Hasting Banda was in charge. Locals very superstitious though.
Was a clean beautiful country (when I was there) with the lake my favorite place.
Hi Swami.
I see ....
When I was 30 I had a girlfriend. We walked in winter with her dog to the woods.
When was too cold in the snow we climbed into the trees and dried our socks.
But I never climbed up the trees to dry up my socks. I used to wear snow boots.
Good write up .
I only had made one good friend. All the other people I knew we weren't even on first name terms.
Plenty of hugs and kisses too!
They have also humor .... but first you need to talk to them ....
But I cannot say that germans are not friendly. I have not this feeling.
I lived 4 years in Italy. A lot of talk and noise but in the end ... no difference. People inwardly are the same ... only how they show outside is different.
...for a second I thought Jsus had started bloging....