4. Feelings Matter
For a music buff listening to music at every opportunity, especially when I walk, I did not listen to music during the four-day walkathon. Uneven pavements, frequent need to step on and off it, and haphazard traffic meant that I needed my full concentration to walk unhurt. Traffic flowing on both sides, especially the wrong side was quite troubling. Generalizing at the cost of ignoring exceptions, our experience was bigger the vehicle, less considerate were they of pedestrians. Keeping off music had its own benefits for I had time to be aware of my feelings.
Starting the day in cool air before dawn was fun, but soon confronted with the hot sun, bad roads, often stinking gutters and garbage bins I cursed myself for taking on this foolish adventure before quickly looking at the joy of accomplishing one of my cherished goals. The kind and considerate people we came across was refreshing and more than compensating. Some waved to us, children on vehicles smiled and cheered us, older people offered words of caution, and a couple of them offered fruits.
From the second day, to keep my mind engaged I choose a topic to dwell on. I was not able to sustain on the idea for more than a couple of hours. But I think I have identified a couple of flaws in me and have plans to correct it soon. As the saying goes, the taste of pudding is in its eating. Let me know if you see me change for the better.
As we boarded the 2nd AC compartment for our return to Bangalore, the feeling was one of sustained joy. They say the enduring quality of an accomplishment is not in its magnitude but in the effort invested. I think this walkathon is among a handful of my memorable successes, ranking along with my qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, quitting smoking, and publishing my first book. As we neared Bangalore, I was looking forward to the next challenge. Some ideas in nascent stage, will flesh it out. Any suggestions from you welcome.
