Walking in Nepal is necessary. The most logical and convenient way to get around is on your own two feet. At first I found walking everywhere to be a slight inconvenience. It took up so much time, and my feet hurt. Quickly though, I grew accustomed to the walking culture and it has become much more than a necessity to me.
I find in America, people zip from one thing to another. We can pack our schedules tight, because travel time is greatly cut by use of fast cars and nice roads. Because of this, we jump from activity to activity at 60mph, with hardly any time in between. I now think, that this habit could be hurting our mental and emotional health.
On average, I walk about an hour a day, be that going to work, running errands, what have you. There is so much space between my activities, of which I can spend in thought, or listening to music. What I cherish most about this time, is the space it gives me to process. Within the half-an-hour it takes me to get to point A to point B, I can reflect on what I just experienced, notice new things around me, appreciate the beauty of the mountains in the distance, prepare for where I am heading, or just walk in the peacefulness of wordless thoughts.
I often arrive at my destination refreshed, a bit warm and physically tired perhaps, but feeling mentally and emotionally renewed. There is a saying in the Himalayas, that even if your body feels fine to keep climbing, one must stop for the soul to catch up. I find that in Nepal, I am moving at my soul's pace. I now understand how necessary it is to slow down, and to give yourself time for the day you're living to sink in.
