Walking Suburbia

Transitions can be a tricky thing. When I’m writing fiction, sometimes my characters struggle to get from Point A to Point B. Do they take a train, fly or transport themselves from one place to the next? Internal transitions can be more challenging. Often an outside event or person will affect a character enough that they will change. It’s a scary time in a character’s life, but more often than not, leads to great rewards.

Since moving to Brookfield, I’ve found that walking has been a transitional tool for me. I’ve transitioned from couch potato to relatively healthy. I’ve grown to love the fresh air, sunshine, the wide streets lined with houses decorated with colorful flowers, green grass, and holiday decorations. I like to walk after work, making a break between “work” and “home” even though with today’s technologies these two worlds tend to bleed into each other.

My regular walking route has seen a change over the past few years. As I’ve noticed more people walking, the demographics have diversified. We’ve got younger people, older folks, moms with strollers, dads with strollers, people of all different color, sexes, and (I’m positive) creeds. 

One of the favorite parts of my walk is when I pass another walker and we have some kind of exchange. 

“Hi, how are you?”

“Isn’t it a great day to walk?” or “Isn’t it a horrible day to walk?” or “Can you believe it still hasn’t rained?”

“Oh, your dog is adorable, can I pet it?”

Sometimes I’ll interrupt my walk to stop and chat with a neighbor. For the more serious athletes power-walking, running, or cycling, I’ll just give them a wave or a head-nod. Some people respond, other’s don’t. Some days all I have in me is a wave or nod. Such is life.

I’ve discovered that one of my “internal transitions” after moving to the suburbs is the importance of community. Brookfield is a great place to live, with a rich and diverse population base. After buying our home, I made the transition from Point A (wishy-washy about my own community) to Point B (I can take part and help build a better community.) Community includes block parties, knowing our neighbors, supporting local arts and sports, volunteering, being involved at church. But in a very small way, it’s also acknowledging my fellow walkers.   

We’re not here alone.

We’re sharing this space together.

We can be civil and even friendly, no matter our differences.

Overly simplified?  Yes.  But I believe the every day, simple things in life affect the big things. 

Such is life in modern day suburbia.