Take a Hike: The Wonderful World of Walking

Take a hike — it might do some good.

More-and-more Americans are walking less and less, according to a 2023 study. Instead of hitting the 10,000-step mark, most Americans beeline it to a car to get to work or school as quickly as possible.

Have we forgotten the simple pleasures of a delightful saunter? A jolly wander? Or a pensive roam?

Modern minds have become preoccupied with material gains and future obligations as we stomp through scenes of nature and community. Everyone can benefit from an occasional walk but they appear to be reserved for dogs and the elderly, compelling others to restrict their time walking as solely a means to an end.

Why can’t we walk without a destination? 

A walk can take many forms. Whether solemn or celebratory, all that matters is putting one foot in front of the other. Get some music ringing through your ears to cultivate any mood you’d like. Listen to folk music and don an undersized jacket amid a chilly fall day like Bob Dylan, or prance around the neighborhood in jorts during the summertime while listening to Bob Dylan.

The attire and overall setup don’t matter — only the walking.

Instead of thinking about an anxiety-inducing upcoming test that may lead to ruin, become immersed in the world of Chicago. 

Watch the hummingbirds fly about the evergreens, walk past a maintenance hole — smell the city sewage — and wonder if that wide-eyed squirrel will make a run for your shin. 

Combative squirrels aside, Chicago is an amazing environment for walking.

Are the suburbs too devoid of life and imagination? Is the countryside too remote and filled with towering, terrifying tractors? Is DuSable Lake Shore Drive too akin to a NASCAR race? Try walking in a Chicago neighborhood, where each block is packed with a variety of cultures and stories, visible in the aged brick buildings and every passerby.

Pilgrimage along the Lakefront Trail that stretches 18.5 miles down the coast of the city. Although it stands close to DLSD, it also hugs Lake Michigan’s seemingly endless cornflower blue waves. Families with strollers and marathon runners alike can be found on the trail, as it has been lovingly used by people from all walks of life since the 1960s, according to the Chicago Architecture Center.

Walk in the Windy City and the wind can take you anywhere.

But why not run, cycle or even drive? Isn’t it nice to cruise down DLSD every once in a while? I see these questions, and I raise you another — why is speed so important?

It’s understandable to be in a hurry when driving to work. But, to those in no rush opting for a vehicle — the journey of a walk can connect us with the environments we choose to inhabit, traveling only for the destination limits a great experience. It’s akin to eating food only for sustenance — why not add some flavor?

So much of our lives are spent in transit. Shouldn’t this sizable chunk of time be used for introspection and self-improvement rather than worrying about which street to turn on or which stop to get off at?

Walking adds a healthy flare to otherwise mundane transit options. It aids people mentally and physically, reducing stress and building energy and endurance. Walking is as valid an exercise as any, and it doesn’t come with the downsides of strenuous activity that produces sweat and a feeling of filth.

It’s important to embrace the world in all its fluctuating, seasonal glory. Summer and winter are the same inside of a truck. Leave the confines of the mechanical box giving temporary and artificial comforts. Life should be lived with an appreciation of nature and its seasons — not in a bubble with the temperature set at a constant 75 degrees. 

And where is it better to live life than Chicago, where every season is felt thoroughly?

Walking through Chicago also allows a person to see an abundance of art and architecture like the beautifully abstract Picasso sculpture in Daley Plaza, or the freaky-looking Tin Man statue in Oz Park. Engaging with these works allows walkers to discover more about themselves and their connection to the city. Even if it’s only a couple minutes a day.

Get out of your head, stretch your legs, touch some grass and open up to the world during that walk to class.