In New York there are two kinds of people: the New Yorker and the tourist. In the jungle that is Manhattan, a tourist would do well to stay out of a New Yorker’s way, in particular a busy one, because they have no time to spare and they will not think twice about a good shove. In New York it is easy to get caught up, and dragged by the street walkers of the city. Like and impregnable tide they demand that you go with the flow, because going against the crowd is futile and as in typical American fashion, the majority rules. Even though it can be a bit dangerous at times, walking in Manhattan is an experience that has been highly underrated, an adventure unlike any other.
Walking promotes honesty and thought, and if nothing else New York is honest. We know what we are, and we are not afraid to admit what we are not. As your feet pound the hard concrete beneath you, there is some unexplainable force that compels you to examine yourself. You reminisce on the past, contemplate the present, and plan the future. When it’s just you and the sidewalk your mind tends to wander because there is no judgment, or fear of being wrong. You contemplate your life and the lives of others. There is no holding back thought when you while, as a result you are more honest with yourself.
One of my favorite places to walk is on 42nd street. Emerging from the catacombs of the infamous New York City subway on the 42nd street and Bryant Park station, you are immediately thrown into the atmosphere that is New York, greeted by the hustle and bustle of the city that never sleeps. You instantly become entranced by the potent odors of the unscrupulous vendor-foods that are sure to lead you astray from the latest fad diet, which has become so popular on the New York beat. Also this particular piece of pavement provides just the right amount of nature and people. You are not swarmed by a sea of tourist but you still manage to see your fair share of those camera wielding, building ogling people, who will no doubt ask you to take a picture for them. This street connects me to all the places I want to go and to all the things I want to do. It is my connection to entertainment, the arts, shopping and of course food. To me it doesn’t get anymore New York than that.
It is walking down this strip that I do some of my best thinking. I think mostly about my past, mainly the decisions that I have made and how they affect my life now. I find it funny how a huge disaster can often be traced back to one little moment. Like a butterfly effect, sometimes you can pinpoint the moment where things went wrong. While strolling along, I notice a woman holding a faint smile as she walks. I assume that, like me, she is thinking about past memories. Her eyes are looking straight ahead, but I can tell she is focusing on something else, something better. She is so deep in thought that she doesn’t seem to notice the blaring horns of taxis or the stream of obscenities that can be heard off in the distance. The candor of her smile is refreshing, and so rare to see, especially with the frowns that seem to be permanently etched on people’s faces due to the so-called failing economy.
As I continue my journey I can smell the sweetened roasted nuts being sold by the vendor. There is a family huddled around the big grey metal set up with smiles of anticipation and hunger on their faces, they purchase a bag of the sweetened goodies. The aroma is mouthwatering, and makes me wish that I wasn’t border-line broke. The fragrance is like a friend, familiar and comforting. It reminds me of two summers ago. That was the summer I spent shopping throughout various parts of New York. Although I did manage to get a few things at a nominal price, I made a huge dent in my wallet, which I am still trying to recovering from. I have now become the smiling woman as I recall the past events of my previous summers. I try not to smile too broadly, but walking New York can do that to you. It is capable of invoking memories that can make you burst out laughing or cringe with shame and embarrassment.
During my walk I also fantasize about my future, as many others do. I wonder what will happen to me, what will I be like in a few years, will my life be good or will it be full of hardships? Some people are scared of what the future may bring. I have heard it said that the end of the world is coming soon, and that our entire planet will be destroyed by global warning, however I find that hard to believe, especially while walking in one of the most liveliest places in Manhattan. I pass by a woman with a somewhat callous look on her face. I purposely try to avoid getting in her way. She appeared to be in a rush and I did not want to be the one to postpone her arrival to wherever her destination was. Another woman, with a frayed brown hat on, was walking slightly ahead of me and she didn’t seem to care that the frowning woman was in a rush. As the two nearly collided the frowning woman gave the woman with the hat a look which could only be described as the “look of death”. But with a brusque mumbled apology from the woman with the hat life went on. If what the crazy prolix preachers say on the train is true and the end of the world as we know it is upon us, it makes you think that maybe time and thought should be spent in more productive ways than being angry.
As I continue walking I notice man with his ipod on. I could tell he was completely into his music because he was practically dancing on the street. His brazen red scarf against his mute grey coat seemed to frame his inimitable character. He was in his own little world not caring what others thought. He didn’t seem to be worried about the grim future of the world that seemed to be nearing. He was just focused on the present moment.
That is how it should be. Although dwelling on the past can you assist you in making future decisions, it can also draw you away from the situation at hand. And harping to much on the future, something that hasn’t even happened yet and has no definite certainty of happening at all, can be profoundly exhausting. Focusing on the current situations in your life allows you to prioritize what is truly important to you, and that is precisely what walking allows you to do.
Some people chose to walk because they’re tired of paying those pretty pennies at the gas pumps, while others walk to better serve the environment, but maybe they’re actually serving themselves. Besides the obvious health benefits, we walk so that we can be honest with ourselves. We walk so that we can let our guard down, and just be who we are. In thought we can not be accused of the hypocrisy which we sometimes allow ourselves to take part in. Walking allows us to be free to think and learn things we never knew about ourselves. So perhaps walking doesn’t only promote honesty and thought, maybe it also promotes knowledge, the knowledge of oneself.