Intersection 8

When my pace of walking meets the crowd...

I walked on one of the famous roads in our city today. However, I could not believe how I perceived the general public's walking pace as very slow compared to mine. I found myself saying, "Excuse me" a lot of times. My feet were very eager to over take someone, my feet acted as if they were on a race - wherein I was the only participant. Remembering that I was in an environment that catered to less busyness, I calmed myself and tried my best to pattern my walking pace to those of the people around me.

Well, I failed about 70 percent of the time. I even found myself beating taxis that were heading for the pedestrian lane I was stepping on. I must have annoyed a few drivers with my speed (if that is how they saw it). Has any stranger found my quick steps surprising? Maybe some may have perceived it as momentarily irritating. I hope I didn't ruin anyone's thoughts or plans or day. I really hope so.

Realizing that my pace in walking is significantly faster than most people around me, I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing. I probably still am attached to the very quick-paced mindset of my workplace, but I feel a little sad about how I cannot seem to relate to the people in my hometown in terms of movement. Maybe I have always seen footsteps as a sign of a certain culture, a trait that is common for people sharing the same idea of time. Well, time is subjective in most cases. Maybe I was too quick in walking because I had a goal (in this case, a meeting with a friend) in mind. Maybe people who walked slower had no place in mind to go to. Maybe they were just walking slower for sightseeing, or they wanted to prolong conversations. Maybe they had too many things going at the same time in their mind that their feet couldn't keep up. Or maybe walking on that road was a part of a routine - something inevitable.

I'd probably get used to the typical pace of walking here. I don't know how long it would take, or if I'd ever perfectly match to anyone's walking pace, but I am content about slowly realizing and accepting the changes that have happened. Changes that may be surprising. Changes that may make me feel disappointed. Even changes that delight me. No matter how these changes will make me feel, I ought to be better than before - strengthening my individuality as a whole.

I hope you find something about you that matches with other people.

Until the next footstep,

Myra

(Credits to www.travelsmart.ca for the photo)