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“I’d rather find ways to help than watch TV.” Jerry, retired, who sweeps his neighborhood. 4/14/18

April 15, 2018April 15, 2018 By fmw

Walkers began at East Rotary Park which was lively with squirrels and birds on a cool, sunny morning. Welcome walkers Sheila, Beth, and Nikiko, and to new walkers, Kathy and Nancy. Kathy is visiting from Washington State and decided to join us!

Jerry, who is retired and chooses to sweep his neighborhood every day

Walkers met Jerry who was sweeping the curbs and sidewalk in his neighborhood by Eaton Elementary. In a conversation, walkers learned that Jerry is retired after 61 years as a big-rig truck driver. He sweeps curbs and sidewalks in his neighborhood every day, about 12 to 13 houses per day, eventually making his way around the block. Jerry told walkers that he’s not interested in spending his time watching TV, but enjoys finding ways to help and contribute to the well being of his neighborhood.  Wow, walkers were so inspired by Jerry’s outlook on life!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back yard stroll through zen garden of Cathy and Brad Davis

 

Highlight: Walkers were graciously invited into the back yard of Brad and Cathy Davis, who live on this walking route. Walkers were thrilled to experience their secret zen garden, with lovely chimes and fountains, garden statues, and friendly benches tucked back into a shady corner of their property. Wonderful!

 

 

 

 

 

Walkers enjoyed the variety of environments on this walk – orchards, dirt paths, sidewalks through residential neighborhoods, developments from the 1970s and 80s, a shopping center, and a surprise stroll through a back yard with a zen garden. Comments from the walkers included: friendly yard sellers! beautiful flowers. The roses were rockin it this morning! Enjoyed the sounds of birds early on, but then the traffic got louder throughout the walk. Remodeled houses – improvements, upgrades, front steps replaced with ramps.

Walkers noticed few children outside playing on this beautiful morning. Walkers discussed how a residential neighborhood like this one, with large front and back yards, is like having private parks, and people may be less inclined to utilize parks and community meeting spaces. One walker is a botanist, and noticed a lack of insects – may be due to close proximity to ag areas that are treated with insecticides.

 

 

Walkers chuckled at the comment about how noisy humans are – noticing how the orchard is a sound buffer to traffic and yard equipment. However, all the sounds of humans, birds, dogs, chimes heightened our awareness of how sounds create a picture of the environment – the sound scape, or bio-acoustics of our city.

Walkers talked about feeling safe even in unfamiliar areas by walking with a group. One walker said that her sister lived in this neighborhood, and after walking it this morning, enjoyed the neighborhood so much more than she imagined she would.

Walkers appreciated the pre-walk reminder to keep shoulders back and head up- looking out toward the environment as we move through it. Walking and noticing keeps walkers aware of the present moment, and reduces the mental noise of rehashing the past or stressing about the future.

To see all the photos from Walk 45, yr 3 from East Rotary Park, check out:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2145221212431288.1073741995.1429474537339296&type=1&l=b14ae97fdf

Google photo album:  https://photos.app.goo.gl/8pvrYNsTdd4Cv8Vk1

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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