The Unexpected Joy of a Slower Pace
I've been a traveler for years, ticking off cities and monuments on a checklist. Don't get me wrong, those trips were incredible. But after a few days of bouncing from one sight to the next, I would inevitably feel exhausted; less like I had explored a place and more like I had survived it.
That's the funny thing about travel. We pack our bags, board a plane, and race to a new destination, only to fall back into the same hurried pace we were trying to escape. I knew there had to be a better way to experience the world.
For me, that way was always under my feet.
When I lived in Chicago, walking wasn't just a way to get around; it was a way to live. I used to walk three miles to my office downtown, passing by the city's sights and smells. I remember walking past a chocolate factory and the air would suddenly be filled with the scent of rich, warm chocolate. It was a small, fleeting moment, but those are the things you remember. They're the moments that make a place feel real.
Over time, this habit of walking became my personal philosophy for exploration. It's an ode to the slower pace. It’s a way of balancing the "must-see" list with simply "being" in a place. It’s about noticing the little things, like the way the light filters through the trees on a wide sidewalk or finding an old brick with a paw print etched into the cement.
Weaving Exploration into the Everyday
So how do we bring that feeling of exploration into our daily lives? You don't need a plane ticket or a week off work. The secret is to treat your own neighborhood like a foreign city.
Here are a few ways to start:
Take the walk. Instead of hopping in the car for a short errand, lace up your shoes and walk. When you turn a corner, go down a street you've never been on before. You might be surprised by what you find.
Put the phone away. This can be a hard one, but try to walk without a podcast, music, or checking your messages. Just be present. Pay attention to the yards, the flowers, the sky. Maybe you'll notice a house with a bright pink door or see a dog you've never seen before.
Find a new "local" spot. This could be a small museum you've driven past a hundred times, a new coffee shop, or even a local park that's just a bit farther than your usual one. You don’t need to spend all day there. Even an hour or two is enough to feel a sense of discovery.
This isn’t about being productive or squeezing more into your day. It’s about being curious. It's about reconnecting with the feeling of newness, even when you're on familiar ground. For me, living in Michigan, that might mean a ten-minute walk to the lake in the dead of winter just to see how different it looks. It's a small act, but it feels like a grand adventure.
I’m on a journey to weave exploration into my everyday life. Will you join me?
