Written Creative Responce to Walking

Walking with intention is something I have discovered to be a particular thing many of us should do more often. A refreshing new take on life and the world around can be found from forgetting your normal paths and stepping towards somewhere new. What I found from this project in particular is there are many things that the majority of us take advantage of far too often, I myself have come to this realization. However it has also come as a friendly reminder of certain things I should keep in mind more often in order to not only be able to take advantage of the places around me but also doing it effectively as well. 

The majority of my usual day-to-day walks are the same and can become tedious. Being asked to become your own Flaneur was a fun and an exciting new approach to a project. So walking through Camden Town became a whole new experience, despite walking through there countless times before. You begin to notice things more, the sounds I heard while passing countless cars, quite a number of shops and hundreds of people. You notice the different sounds of engines cars have, as some rattled or whizzed past, or the unusual yet entertaining conversations you find yourself unintentionally and consciously involved in, the simple sound of footsteps going by every second as pedestrians quickly move on with their day. However, despite this fun and new outlook on something as simple as walking, there were certain things i came to realize about walking in general and how I view or treat it in comparison to others around me. As a women completing and researching for this project, there were a few things I already had information and opinions about. But once you focus all your attention onto something there are some things that just become that little bit clearer and broader in your mind.

Walking outside for a woman is an experience that varies from woman to woman. But almost every woman will know the differences and changes that we have to make in our lifestyles in order to keep ourselves safe while venturing out. Walking at night is just one example. For someone like me, I have always been aware of not walking alone at night, but there was always a part of me that had a level of recklessness and/or impatience for this. Something about going for a walk or a run at night felt calming less chaotic than venturing out into the business of the day. Streets become an empty canvas to enjoy and experience, you can allow yourself to take in the things around you much easier and enjoy them in a whole new way.