Walking contently

     

 Very recently I have taken to walking in the evenings. And its doing me so much good . At sharp six , I hit the nearby park with a lot of zeal. If I take one lap of the entire park  it’s equal to a km. I try to take five such laps, but may not succeed everyday. I get tired as it’s very hot nowadays.  I pluck  a flower and then return home.

 The park is quite popular amongst  the residents  here . I guess, it is because of it’s location. The young, the old , the firm, the infirm, the slow ,the fast,  children of every age,  all  conveniently  assemble in small coteries from the residential societies located nearby. And the park glows with life and colour for an hour or two.  

   The layout  of the park is meticulous. It is bordered by a boundary wall on all the four sides. A  fairly narrow stretch of muddy path, runs along the boundary wall inside.  Tall and huge flowering trees planted   at regular distance  impart  that  maddening  green look . Some of them like the Neem, Gulmohar  and the Amaltas  are recognisable. There are many others, the names of which, I have to search. As I walk along the brick layered path meant for walkers, I keep gazing at the trees. God knows for how many years they are standing like this. Atleast they are safe inside. Otherwise someone would have cut them all and built some complex, adding to the concrete jungle around.

    As my legs pick up speed, my eyes swim across the many faces that pass me. Some walk alone ,deep in thought . Some talk affably to their companion.  Some seem to have a purpose. ( specially the twenty something lot) They don’t want to look like potatoes.  They are focussed and sharp. The white haired ladies are the best. They walk in groups . After sometime they sit on the wooden bench the park provides. They gossip non-stop. Teenage boys -loud,brash and strong . They occupy the inner circle. Playing football with all their power .

      When I watch the young , I feel I  should have been like them in my youth. Strong , persuasive, determined, knowing what to get from life. May be they pursue big careers. Then  when my gaze shifts towards the grandmas , I mentally  decide to be like them – happily thriving in the sunset of their lives.  But what to be now--- my midlife.

       Anyway ,this addiction to walking keeps me agile, spirited, refreshed and energetic. I feel focused and introspect deeply about things that are important . Don’t you see the benefits  are too high to be ignored.