We Should Work To Create Our Personal Pleasure

Going to Paris for a month was really a once-in-a-lifetime expertise. And one in every of my largest takeaways was {that a} strolling metropolis brings me immense pleasure. A lot pleasure. I all the time thought I used to be so blissful in a lot of these cities simply because it was trip. Certainly the novelty would put on off if you’re now not strolling to museums and purchasing, however as a substitute strolling to conferences, appointments and errands. I can safely say now that it wasn’t the rose-colored glasses of being on trip. And I do know this for a reality as a result of shortly I discovered myself heading to the Apple retailer with a shattered telephone and grabbing groceries each few days. I liked it. Even going to the dreaded Apple retailer.

I spent a lot time strolling round and taking all of it in whereas in Paris.

And I simply actually discovered that that life-style actually makes me really feel alive and blissful. And sadly, it’s not one thing we do right here on this non-walkable metropolis I dwell in and name dwelling, Atlanta. Positive there are pockets of that walkability in sure neighborhoods. However I’ve to truly drive TO the pockets, to then stroll. I hate that. But it surely’s my actuality proper now.

Over the weekend I went to a museum with a few buddies. It was pouring out. Depressing. I spotted I didn’t have my automotive umbrella on me which I knew would simply add to the distress. Parking by the museum was a nightmare. There was no avenue parking to be discovered. The parking decks have been all $20 for some particular occasion close by on prime of it. I used to be rising increasingly more aggravated. I actually screamed out in frustration “I HATE THIS CITY”. How does this huge metropolis not have environment friendly public transportation or good parking options contemplating we’re an car haven? I lastly parked a couple of blocks away in a deck that was sadly additionally overpriced. However alas, I had a parking spot, I used to be united with my buddy, and we have been able to perform a little strolling.

The second my buddy and I left the deck and have been strolling the few blocks to the museum, I felt alive once more.

It was raining on me, my freshly blow-dried hair, and I gave ZERO FUCKS about it. I used to be simply so blissful to be WALKING. Whereas blissfully strolling within the rain, we handed by these cute little statues we’d by no means observed earlier than. This can be a avenue by the way in which that we drive on repeatedly in Atlanta. It’s a foremost street and one I took to get to my previous day job each single day. We by no means observed these little statues till we have been on the sidewalk and taking all of it in slowly strolling by. Okay, we have been type of strolling briskly because of the rain. However we stopped to take them in.

You discover a lot if you’re not in a automotive and are as a substitute on foot and ready to go searching and take all of it in. And it’s that particular second and expertise I’m attempting to recreate right here in Atlanta as usually as doable.

It’s not straightforward, although…

It’s not straightforward. It takes effort, in contrast to different strolling cities that simply require you to step outdoors your entrance door. So I’ve been on a mission to search out this extra. Spending a day at a museum. Parking farther away to get even a brief stroll in. Planning in these walkable neighborhoods so I can play fake that we’re a strolling metropolis for just some hours. It’s the little issues I’m attempting to do to make issues really feel extra alive in Atlanta for me. As a result of I cannot simply sit round and hate this metropolis. That serves me no goal. So it is a reminder you can create the enjoyment in your life when you put somewhat effort into it. A reminder I would like usually.