I walked almost 30 miles this week!

I walked almost 30 miles this week because I’m trying to figure out what to do with my life, and walking seems to help with that.

Tuesday morning at 8am, I was walking through Washington Heights as the store owners opened their grates and the city came alive.

Saturday afternoon I walked 70 blocks through the rain without an umbrella.

Through this all, I’ve been listening to Fellowship of the Rings. Just as I did with The Hobbit, I only allow myself to listen if I’m actually walking. So it does give me extra incentive. In my listening, Frodo and Company have just left Bree with Strider. Here are a few good quotes I’ve bookmarked.

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf. “And so do all who live to see such times.”

“Well, we all like walking in the dark,” he said. “So let’s put some miles behind us before bed.”

“The wide world is all about you: you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot for ever fence it out.”

“You can trust us to stick to you through thick and thin – to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours – closer than you yourself keep it. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word. We are your friends, Frodo.”

What is it about walking that helps to figure things out? Is it the blood pumping to your brain? I’ve really enjoyed it. I don’t always have this much time to spare. In all of my travels, the blossoms have been just beautiful.

It is springtime in New York City, and I’m not the only one taking advantage of that.

On my journey to Mordor, the Fellowship is currently drifting in their elven boats down the Aduin. How nice for them. They aren’t walking.

Listening to: The Fellowship of The Ring on Audible