Dreamwalking

I am a walker. At times, I walk with a friend or as part of a walking club, but I usually prefer to walk by myself. On my own, I can walk faster, farther, and longer than I can with someone else and I can adjust my route without fear of inconveniencing another person.

I generally try to get an early start. Part of the reason is because I live at the intersection of two very busy arteries coming into Lowell and I don’t want to be picked off by some automobile racing down the street. Part of the reason is because I like the way the world looks at 6 am: quiet, peaceful, unsullied. Part of the reason is that the only things I have to worry about at this time of day are the occasional overprotective dog barking in an otherwise silent neighborhood and the sprinkler systems that pop on unexpectedly. But the biggest reason is that early in the day my thoughts are less likely to be disturbed by the interference of cars, dogs, or other people.

What am I thinking about that is of such importance that I am known to utter “shit” and deliberately cross the road when I see someone walking in my direction? When I walk, it is the one opportunity I consistently have to daydream. For me, walking is about unstructured time. I do not want to focus on serious matters like work or my finances. This is time with which I am selfish - it is a chance for me to be free from the trappings of my day-to-day existence, to take in the world around me at a quarter of the speed at which I usually see it, to be healthy not only in body, but also in mind.

I find that daydreaming is a productive activity for me, primarily because it charges my creativity. Sometimes I imagine the found art I could make with the various pieces of trash I see on the side of the road. Other times I picture myself as a talk show host and I plan who I would want to interview and what I would want to ask, or I envision what scenarios I would devise if I were a screenwriter. And sometimes I find that my mind reaches a level of inspiration where words pour out of me and by the time I arrive home, I have the foundation for a new poem or a new blog.

I am at my happiest when I am creating something, even if it is in my own mind, so awarding myself the opportunity to recharge and get those juices flowing is vital to my mental wellbeing. In fact, I relish this kind of personal reflection and the products of the time spent doing it, in particular. Hear me now and believe me later… daydreaming; it’s not just for kids anymore.