To Wander About On Foot

When walking, I thought 

of all the legendary walkers: 

of Plato wandering with his 

students in his olive grove, of 

Basho circling the island of Japan, 

of Ben Johnson hiking to Scotland 

in his grief to see his friend, William 

Drummond, of Emerson and Whitman 

strolling for hours across what would 

be Boston Commons, and of those in 

history who walked their way to a new 

land. When Berlin fell, there were 

women and children who walked 

out of the rubble all the way to 

Salzburg. Then, I stopped under 

a cloud to think of those forced to 

walk to their death in Germany, 

Cambodia, and Rwanda. And I 

kept walking and thought of those 

who walk to calm their minds, and 

those who walk to remember or 

forget. Then, I stopped in a patch 

of sun because my hips began to 

burn and thought of Petrarch who 

walked up Mount Ventoux with 

his brother simply for the climb. 

And just as I began to feel tender 

and free, like I could begin again, 

I just kept walking. 

A Question to Walk With: Go for a walk with a friend or trusted loved one, noting how walking both outwardly and inwardly affects you. How does your perspective change when walking? 

This excerpt is from my book in progress, Suchness. 

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For more information about Mark’s books and upcoming events, visit MarkNepo.com and ThreeIntentions.com.  

Information about his upcoming webinars, including Mark’s new webinar, Falling Down and Getting Up: Discovering Your Inner Resilience and Strength, that starts October 29th can be found at Live.MarkNepo.com. 

Nov 9-12: Santa Sabina Center, San Rafael, CA, Four-Day Retreat, Surviving Storms: Finding the Strength to Meet Adversity. (web link) 

Dec 8-10: St Andrews, Jackson, MI, Weekend Retreat, Falling Down and Getting Up, Link to come

Dec 16: Online Publication Reading & Conversation, The Half-Life of Angels, through Pine Manor, FREE, Link to come

Feb 5-10, 2024: Modern Elder Academy, Baja, Mexico, Falling Down and Getting Up: Discovering Your Own Resilience and Strength (web link)

2024-2025 Yearlong Journey: 4 Weekends in Kalamazoo, MI, The One Life We’re Given: Finding the Wisdom That Waits in Your Heart (web link)

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