Entry 4- Taking the Long Way


"The swiftest traveler is he that goes afoot.”- Thoreau
“Yeah, right,” I thought on my long walk over to the TCU Rec.
Undeniably, the most frustrating aspect of TCU’s campus is its lack of parking. Parking lots, the ones that aren’t closed, at least, are scattered few and far between, futilely serving the ever-growing student population. This inconvenience is most obvious to me when I go to the gym. The strategic route planning and intentional workout timing required to get a Rec parking spot brews such discontent in me that it nearly ruins my favorite hobby. Therefore, this semester, I decided to walk from my apartment to Rec.
I initially despised these walks. On my early morning treks, I endured bone-chilling temperatures, dealt with wind thrashing across my face, and dodged speeding commuters. Worst of all, I would have to do it all over again to get home, dragging sore legs from a workout along with me. At this point, I would think of Thoreau’s quote and wholeheartedly disagree: “the swiftest traveler is he that takes his truck there.”
Over time, however, perhaps because of this class or my personal goal to become more present and mindful, I have come to look forward to these walks as much as I do my lift. My journey starts at my apartment, where I notice friendly squirrels scurrying through the trees around me. I saunter through the large, grassy courtyard that accompanies the beautifully built Boschini Music Hall. I progress towards the residential side of campus, inhaling the refreshing, cool air of a spring morning, spotting small beds of planted pansies, and hearing the crunch of miniature acorns with each step. As I near the Rec, I slow to appreciate the quiet stillness of the Commons in the early morning, framed by foliage and a wide stretch of open grass. And the best part? I get to do it all over again on the way home.
Perhaps Thoreau is right after all. Achievement is not measured through speed and efficiency, but by awareness and a little extra effort. Walking across campus takes much longer than driving, but that inconvenience became an invitation to pause, embrace my environment, and engage with my surroundings. The longest route around campus turned out to be the quickest way to find more fulfillment in my day.

Comments

  1. williams.dan76March 3, 2026 at 9:48 AM

    This is a great blog post, thanks. I like your descriptions of walking while being more present and mindful. It's not easy when it cold and there's a frigid wind chill, but such walks have their own rewards.

    ReplyDelete

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