A Sitting Duck No More

I’ll admit, I was one of those who never really used LinkedIn. Or looked at it. But then I started getting hooked to “Influencer Posts” that cover a variety of topics from various levels in the professional world. Last week, Arianna Huffington posted Hemingway, Thoreau, Jefferson and the Virtues of a Good Long Walk  and it really got me thinking.

Maybe those guys (being Hemingway, Thoreau, Jefferson and the slew of others mentioned) were seriously on to something. I’ve often turned to walks during stressful times. Times to catch up with friends. Or just times to escape it all. And often, these happen along the lakefront. Though for some reason, it’s only during the fall and spring (maybe that chill in the air slapping you in the face has something to do with it). But it’s my first defense when things get rough.

Take for instance this past week at the office. A colleague was seriously overwhelmed and after seeing her walk by my desk, I followed up with a Gchat message saying: “Want to take a walk?” Even though we never went  outside, it still helped. To get up and just walk away for a bit to gain a little perspective, but more importantly, a little distance. I’ve made a point to just pop into offices instead of calling people, just for the chance to get some mobility into my day.

I particularly enjoyed the quote from Gregory Berns in Iconoclast: A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think Differently when he writes, “new insights come from people and new environments — any circumstance in which the brain has a hard time predicting what will come next.” That to me sums up why around that 2:30 hour at the office, I’m craving somewhere for my legs to carry me. Sitting makes me feel stuck. Sitting makes me feel like a lump. And how is one supposed to be creative in that kinda of setting?

Below is an infographic from Mind Yourself Chicago on the importance of getting out there, for less than an hour. So feet, sandals, flip flops and boots, start walkin’.

Take a Walk

It’s my go-to when I just need a break. A moment. I head out and just start walking. No real destination in mind, just soaking in some fresh air and a breeze. Lately though, I’ve found myself opting for streets filled with people instead of the Lakefront.

And now, I’ve got the perfect song to play on loop. Clearly I’m not the only fan of this break in the day.

What are some things you do to just get away from it all?

Passion Pit | “Take A Walk”

Just fillin’ the bucket ‘o life

Last weekend Molly was in town, which meant I not only got to hang with a lovely Kansas lady, but I also got to kick it with her amazingly fun sister Emily. The last time Molly came in town, was the day I lost my job, so I was a bit nervous about her returning. But no worries, still employed!

I’m glad that when she comes in town she bakes cookies and always wants to dance. Two things I just can’t get enough of. So after a pretty low key Friday night (I mean, compared to our Saturday, insanely low key), we ventured up to Wrigley to see some of the boys. After being there for a bit, we grew a bit tired and decided to head back to Emily’s. The traffic was literally insane on Clark, so we walked a bit/debated just trekking back to Em’s on foot.

And that’s when we spotted them.

Sitting there, begging to be of use: A rickshaw.

It was on the bucket list to ride one. And lord did we ride this one. Poor guy stood most of the time pedaling us ladies (note: I’m sure passerbyers thought we were enormous). But impressively, said biker/puller managed to smoke a cig the whole entire time. By the time we got to Emily’s I felt so bad. Dude’s calves had to have burned and throbbed the next day! So we tipped him 150% of our $12 tab. And seriously, that was cheaper than sitting in a cab eating away at a meter.

Seriously, look at how excited all of us are to be crammed in a little buggy.