@2018 Charles Dunlevy
I love to walk. I literally walked off over 40 pounds in 2016. I walked every day during lunch break and again after work. I work downtown and live in the inner suburbs. Going for walks is different depending on whether you are in the city of suburbs. Both are great options, but different experiences.
The thing that I love most about walking in the suburbs is the peace and quiet. I love trees and my community is pretty much situated in a forest (when viewed from above). I love to listen to music while walking, but sometimes I just listen to the birds.
When listening to music while walking, I walk to the beat of the music… mostly house music in the 118-125 bpm range.
I find that is it far easier to walk long distances downtown than in the suburbs. There are so many shops and people and places to see that you do not notice how far you have walked.
Walking in the suburbs is great for peace and quiet, but can get boring especially if you are in a relatively new area where there is nothing but cookie-cutter subdivisions.
North York Centre is a great place for walking. This community contains a busy downtown-style Yonge street corridor flanked by serene suburban-style residential streets on either side. High rise buildings are concentrated along Yonge Street. This area is situated in the middle of both branches of the Don River.
Don Mills holds the distinction of being the first master-planned community in North America. It consists of winding streets and cul-de-sacs with a network of walking paths and trails interspersed throughout the community. The community is situated around a major intersection and contains 4 quadrants with the intersection at the centre. Retail is concentrated at the south-east corner in a nice outdoor plaza which was previously an indoor shopping mall which before that, was an outdoor shopping centre.
No matter which environment, walking is great for the body and mind. I am able to brainstorm and make plans while walking by myself. Some of my best ideas have come up during long walks.
As an avid lover of music, I find my walks are the best time to just enjoy the music. I create playlists or record my own mix set and enjoy the true experience while walking.
So what are you waiting for? Put down that smart phone and go out for a walk… Or better yet, carry it with you so that you may listen to music and take photographs. Have a great time walking!