Lessons from a Walking Man

I go on walks almost every day at 4:00. The path that I follow goes over some train tracks, past a park, through a neighborhood, and then ends at a fallen tree. Along the path, there are many beautiful examples of the near perfection that is nature. Flowers bloom, supported by the natural fertilizer provided by the animals. Birds live in harmony along with the squirrels, leading each other to food. New plants grow where old plants have fallen. And in the middle of all this is me.

A fallen tree near a pond. It marks the end of my walking path. (Photo by author)

Despite my intrusion on the natural environment, the plants and animals continue their normal way of life. While some of the animals may get scared and move away, they just go right back to supporting themselves. The behavior of the plants and animals that I see daily have made me think. Those thoughts have eventually turned into concepts of lessons that I've learned from the walking path. Many of these lessons are universal to all of nature, including us as humans.

A view staring down the train tracks. Trains commonly pass through, so it's rare to see them empty. (Photo by author)

The first thing I pass by is a railroad track that cuts right through a small forest. On either side of the track, trees and other plants grow to great heights. Small critters often dash across the track to get food or go to their family. I sometimes wonder how this little ecosystem can function so well with a rift cut right through it, especially when compared to human society. Humans tend to take any small divide between people and turn it into something that causes unnecessary inconvenience. Sometimes even the smallest of differences, like the color of our skin, allows people to create big issues that cause irreparable damage to human society as a whole. Is it really that difficult to get over minor obstacles and function as one full human race? Clearly it can't be that hard, if even the squirrels can do it.

The cranes mentioned below. They're sitting in a neighbor’s yard, eating small insects. (Photo by author)

A little bit further down the trail, there are two birds that I pass by frequently, likely some kind of crane. They sit in the yards bordering the walking path, watching as people pass by them. Despite some people actively disrupting the birds by trying to touch them or get their attention, they just ignore it and continue lounging around the yard. Every day, I aspire to be like those birds. I face annoying people and disturbances daily, but I've learned to not let it affect me. After all, in the long run, we're all just people (or sometimes birds) trying to get through the day.

Ducks lined up across the pond. They're not moving much, just aimlessly drifting. (Photo by author)

There's a small pond just past where the birds sit. It's a common spot for fishing among the neighborhood, so there's not usually much wildlife. But sometimes, a large gathering of ducks lines up across the entire pond, and they spend the rest of the day quacking away. This is a fairly uncommon occurrence, due to the large number of people fishing at the pond. However, the ducks know that when they're together, they run the pond. It seems like such a simple thing to say, yet oftentimes it feels like humans still haven't learned this. Nothing is stopping us from sticking together and making huge changes for the better. Unfortunately, too many people feel the need to either do everything themselves or not do anything at all. We should all try acting like ducks at least every once in a while.

A small, secluded pond. Very few animals are nearby, including fish. It has an eerie vibe, as it feels like it should be lively but isn't. (Photo by author)

Ultimately, nature seems to be a lot more put together than human society. It doesn't have any discrimination. It isn't bothered by minor disturbances. It knows how to act as a whole to make changes. Nature is the greatest teacher, as long as you're willing to listen. My walks have placed me in a perfect spot to listen, as I'm forced to pay attention to nature and learn a few things along the way.