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“It’s hard to hate someone whose story you know.” Walk 28, Yr 3, 11/4/17

November 6, 2017November 7, 2017 By fmw
Mindfulness walkers linger at Fresno High

“It’s hard to hate someone whose story you know” stopped walkers in their tracks to absorb the profound message posted on a window at Fresno High School.  These words in many ways, capture a valuable aspect of Fresno Mindfulness Walks – that by walking all of Fresno neighborhoods, by being in close proximity to people we may never otherwise encounter, we get a glimpse into their stories. And that glimpse can increase our empathy and understanding and increase our joy at living in community.

sign at Fresno High

Saturday, November 4, 2017, new walkers joined the group, which began at Gazebo Gardens, and strolled 4 miles of Fresno neighborhoods, including the campus of Fresno High School.  A special welcome to new walkers Denver and Lora who drove from Kingsburg to walk with us!

 

Observations included:

Lots of remodeling in progress.
Interesting to walk Fresno High – changed a lot since I remember it from years ago.
Beautiful old architecture all throughout this walk.  Such creativity to enjoy, house to house.
Lots of character in these neighborhoods.
Very quiet and peaceful after the rain
Homes with front courtyards – looks inviting and welcoming.
Front yard seating
Old Van Ness gas station – first gas station – Russell Clements – Auto repair

Flea markets – holiday theme

walking alleys

Interesting experience walking the alley.  I felt like we were a silent gang walking down the alley.  Someone would have been surprised to encounter us.
Police might not target a group who looks like us.  I wish for the day when anyone is welcomed in any and every neighborhood.

Alleys – some are gated and locked.  Some are open.  Who/what makes the difference?

Enjoyed the diversity of the churches – Jewish, Unity, Congregational, Campus Church, etc.

So nice to have neighborhoods where you can walk to church.
Big trash day – curb trash – see so much of people’s lives in what they discard.

One walker counted the number of dogs:  17 dogs you could see – 18 heard but not seen.
German shepherd running down the street chasing a car.  The dog seemed distressed, which made walkers feel sad.
Numerous cats – two cats looked like the statue they were sitting next to.
Very little traffic on the streets we walked.  Nice to walk without having to worry about cars.

At the beginning of the walk, a walker discovered a discarded vodka bottle w snail crawling on it.

So many beautiful trees and leaves.

Sounds
Leaves crunching
Jets
Trains
Dogs barking
Copa Cabana – music playing at the Fresno High flea market
Music from a house
Music thumping from car
Voices of children playing inside a house
Loud car backfire

Because I was focused on all my senses, I could focus on the sounds.  I listened intently to the tone of parents cheer for their children playing soccer at Hamilton school.  I was in tune to the sounds of parents and children.

Smells:
Mexican food
Wet – nature
Smelled fresh -post rain

mindfulness walkers appreciate roses along the sidewalk

Roses
Leaves
Fresh laundry – dryer sheets
Trash

nice having neighborhoods where you can walk to church

Feelings
Felt happy and comforting
First house was in this neighborhood.
Two houses with prayer boxes
Free little library box in the yard
Sign in 3 languages – welcome, no matter where you are from…
Fresno High sign – breast feeding friendly

 

 

FMWalker’s post: “Began yesterday at Gazebo Gardens via Cafe Van Ness. Who could not start the experience with a smile? Quietly we walked paying attention on purpose to each step, sights, sounds, body sensations, and other perceived stimuli.” Donna

 

To see all the photos from walk 28, Yr 3:

Google photo album:  https://photos.app.goo.gl/wLlbBcSWwDNJQhPm2

Facebook photo album:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2052584341694976.1073741975.1429474537339296&type=1&l=1365ebd062

This entry was posted in Uncategorized

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UPCOMING WALK: Saturday, January 29, 2022, 10 a.m.

Fresno Mindfulness Walks will lead a Saturday morning walk on January 29, 2022, beginning at 10 am. at 271 N. Glenn Ave., Fresno, CA 93701 (the home of Craig Scharton).  
 
The walk will be about 3 miles, at a stroll to medium pace, occasionally on uneven ground, and take about an hour and a half. By walking mindfully and without talking, we will experience the Lowell neighborhood in new ways. At the conclusion of the walk, we’ll gather back at Craig’s yard and spend a few minutes talking about what we discovered about ourselves and the neighborhood. 
Walks are free and require no RSVP. Look for the Facebook event to share with your friends. For email notifications, sign up in the yellow bar at the top.
Lori Clanton
Lucky Leader to Fresno Mindfulness Walks

How FMW works —

Fresno Mindfulness Walks are weekly opportunities for people to walk together for a 4 mile route through a different Fresno neighborhood each week. Walkers practice active mindfulness by attending to the sights, sounds, smells, feelings.  Walkers do not talk to each other on walks, but we do greet people we meet along the way.  The walk location and exact start time are posted just a few days in advance. All walks are free, require no RSVP, and anyone is welcome to join one walk or many. To learn about upcoming walks, you can sign up for a weekly email in the yellow bar at the top of this website and/or LIKE and follow the FMW Facebook page.

 

To learn about the routine that begins each walk and read some of the resources that have inspired FMW, check out the resources page.

 

Weekly walks are about 4 miles and take about an hour and a half. Walks are at a medium pace, often on uneven ground, and sometimes take longer than expected because walkers see themselves as curious travelers lingering to observe or going around a different way.

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