Gratituesday 7.26.22 - The 12-Hour Walk
Just over a week ago my friend Jenny challenged her community to join her on an endurance challenge. A friend of hers, Colin O’Brady just wrote a book called The 12-Hour Walk and was looking for some people to try it out. The idea is to turn your devices off, take a solo walk and be alone in your thoughts. I did my walk last Tuesday and my body has finally recovered. I filmed a video and posted it to IG both before and after. The pre-video was a confession that I really didn’t know what I would experience, but had a feeling that powering off my phone would be challenging. Once I got home 12 hours later, I was certainly feeling accomplishment in completing the challenge. But I was super tired. My left hip which started bothering me 1/3 of the way in expanded to other parts of my legs. I also realized about 10 hours in that I forgot to put sunscreen on my chest, and that it was now beet red. Needless to say, I don’t do endurance challenges. Therefore my body was not used to the physical toll. But this was just as much of a mental challenge, and I could handle that.
The Route
I did have a plan in mind, and I pretty much stuck to it. I left my apartment in Central Harlem and zig-zagged my way to the westside. I have to be honest and say that I was on the search for a breakfast burrito, and after some searching, I did find one. My first break was sitting on a park bench at 125th Street and the Westside Highway nibbling on my wrap with some delicious cold brew that I brought from home. After taking in the view of the Hudson and the GW Bridge, I headed south on the walking path of Riverside Park.
I jumped off the path at my first opportunity to find a bathroom. That’s one thing that I did not consider. I thought was at 96th Street, but the sign leading to the Upper West Side said 104th. After a quick pit stop in the nastiest bathroom of a bagel place, I wound my way back to Riverside Park, and found a set of stairs and a tunnel leading me back to the path along the Hudson. There was an old marina at 79th Street, and what looked like a homeless man reading a book on a hill without a care in the world.
At 72nd Street, Riverside Park becomes Hudson River Park. I found piers and restaurants, areas to workout and picnic in the grass. I saw tons of trash in the water. This is where my hip started bothering me. So I sat in the shade and stretched and drank from my water bottle. When I hit 59th Street, I started seeing more tourists as the Circle Line and The Intrepid were there. At 38th Street, I jumped off the western path and crossed 12th Ave. Right after The Javitz Center, I found the north entrance to The Highline. As soon as got south of The Shed, I realized that this path could have been a mistake as it was just so crowded. I love this park and I’m not here very often. I heard languages from all over the world and people joyously taking photos of the buildings and each other. I hung in to then end, on Gansevoort Street and started the journey east. I didn’t have a path in mind, and if it was any other day, I would probably have taken out my phone to review a navigation app.
I wiggled my way through the Meatpacking District to Greenwich Village in search of lunch. I wanted to treat myself, but the heat started to get to me, and I really couldn’t make a decision. I selected a place that was busy, because that’s usually a good sign that the restaurant is good. I had a mediocre meal, but the beer was cold and I could fill my water bottle and go to the bathroom.
After momentarily getting turned around, I headed south and east to downtown Manhattan and the entrance to The Brooklyn Bridge. Gosh, if I thought that The Highline was crowded, heading from Manhattan to Brooklyn was ridiculous. The temperature was around 96 degrees, but thankfully there are benches to rest along the way. Once in DUMBO, I walked down to the pier and then ducked into 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge to go to the bathroom, fill my water bottle and soak in the air conditioning. My hip was making walking difficult, so after grabbing an ice cream cone I decided that it may be smart to take the ferry back to Manhattan. Did I cheat? Maybe, but taking the water taxi is something I rarely do and it made it possible for me to complete the walk. I sat in Brooklyn Bridge Park overlooking the East River as I waited for the ferry. I did use my phone to download the ferry app, and while I didn’t check email, I may have seen one of my text messages. :)
After hopping off the ferry at East 34th Street, I tried to walk up the east side of Manhattan. Unfortunately there are not the same type of walking trails as there are on the westside. So I decided instead to walk through the Upper East Side into Central Park. I am so rarely on the east side of the park, so this was a complete treat. I walked around the Conservatory Water and stopped at the Alice in Wonderland sculpture. I found the obelisk and I hobbled around the east side of the reservoir. I sat on park benches and watched New Yorkers walk their dogs, sit with friends or walk quickly on their way home. I originally thought I would have enough time to stop on the way home and have a happy hour cocktail and an appetizer. However I had to take more breaks to sit and rest. Honestly I was not in the mood for a drink. I was hot and tired and just wanted to get home.
I found my way through the Conservatory Gardens, however there is so much construction that it was a waste of time. Once at West 110th Street, I walked over to west Lenox and took the last 30 blocks north. At 130th Street, my right calf started to spasm and I just had to laugh. I was so close and my body started to revolt. The sad thing I did notice is that Harlem is full of trash. On the curbs and on the sidewalk. I walked much of Manhattan and a small sliver of Brooklyn. I saw some amazing views and architecture. I was equally filled with disappointment and accomplishment limping home into my own neighborhood.
The Lessons
The first lesson came on the walking path along the Hudson. There were a ton of runners, cyclists, and people on motorized scooters. They all passed me by. As a New Yorker I tend to walk fast. I mean, we all have places to be. However, I realized that my goal was not the destination, but the journey. So I was okay at my slower pace.
I live in an amazingly beautiful city. Perhaps the best city in the world. I am very lucky to be born and raised here. While I lived in other cities, I love that I came back home 10 years ago. I’m not surprised that New York is a tourist destination - though sometimes it’s frustrating. But listening to languages from all over the world was exciting.
We live in a society that is addicted to their devices. The amount of people I saw looking down at their phones was overwhelming. And while I don’t usually walk peering down at my phone, I do check social media or my messages if I have down time. The problem when we have your eyes on our phone is that we tend to not pay attention to where we’re going. Not only that, but we miss seeing the beauty around us and potentially connecting with others.
I hate to admit this, but I am a judgmental person. I found myself snickering or making faces when I saw someone wearing heels while walking The Brooklyn Bridge, or this dude wearing super ugly shoes on the Upper East Side. With my eyes up, I was taking it all in and I definitely had an opinion. Perhaps I need to work on this one.
Trekking so much of the city - and so many different neighborhoods, I saw the disparity of wealth. It’s equally sad and unfair. I saw the monied folks who were able to have lunch out on a weekday, and shop in boutiques and homeless people camped out with their dogs underneath scaffolding on First Ave. I know we live in a capitalist society, but it’s really hard to see those that have so much next to those that have nothing. It makes me want to do more, give more.
Of course, all of this reflection is great for my weekly lists. I highly encourage everyone to step out of their comfort zone and do something challenging. Maybe it’s walking 12 hours, maybe it’s being open to meeting new people. If you need a little motivation, please let me know. The comment section is always open to question, encourage and/or add your own lists. Off we go!
Gratitudes
Air conditioning and a fan
Cold brew
My accountability partner
Great colleagues in both the wedding and catering industries
Having a dishwasher
Celebrations
848 days of Spanish lessons on Duolingo
Cleaning my dining room
Staying active…according to my Apple Watch activity app
Getting a mani/pedi
Booking a new wedding couple today
Desires
Widening my business circle in the wedding industry
Planning some trips
A massage - I have this scheduled for Thursday
For Maxie to stop biting me - though I have a feeling this is a losing battle
Starting writing my book on premarital counseling again