Ep 23: Notice
Introduction
If you're new to this blog, you should know that I've recently embarked on a grand quest to walk all the main roads in Vancouver. This isn't something I've done before—walking used to be just a means to get somewhere or a leisurely activity with friends.
Now, many of my walks are solo adventures, and they've become an activity I enjoy for its own sake. Little did I know how profoundly these walks would change not only my perspective on the city but also my daily habits and behaviours.
Physical Changes
My newfound ability to take long walks at a moment's notice has been transformative. What once seemed like a daunting task—walking for hours—is now an opportunity for spontaneous adventure. Now, when a friend suggests meeting up across town, my first thought is often, “Great! I'll walk there”, regardless of distance—and often to their surprise, hehe.
The physical changes have been remarkable; 10-kilometer 'expeditions' that would intimidate former me now feel like pleasant journeys. This increased endurance has improved my overall fitness and energy levels.
Mental Well-being
Perhaps the most surprising change has been in my mental health this winter. As someone from a tropical background, Vancouver winters usually hit me hard with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This year, my walking quest virtually eliminated those symptoms.
The combination of having a purposeful quest, being more active, and exploring new places regardless of weather has made a significant difference. There's something meditative about these long walks—I've experienced "solvitur ambulando" (it is solved by walking) quite literally, finding that my most burdensome thoughts often dissipate after a good walk.
“Above all, do not lose your desire to walk. Everyday, I walk myself into a state of well-being & walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it…”
Søren Kierkegaard
New Perspectives
These intentional walks have trained me to notice things I'd previously overlooked, even on familiar streets. It's as if I've developed a new set of eyes, attuned to details of my surroundings.
Lauren Elkin captures this sentiment perfectly in her book, “Flâneuse”:
“Walking is mapping with your feet. It helps you piece a city together, connecting up neighbourhoods that might otherwise have remained discrete entities, different planets bound to each other, sustained yet remote. I like seeing how in fact they blend into one another, I like noticing the boundaries between them. Walking helps me feel at home.”
The World of Plants
My walking habit has gradually opened my eyes to the urban flora I'd been overlooking. It started with noticing a Scouler's Willow on a street I'd passed countless times, its two-toned leaves catching my eye and making me wonder why I'd never seen it before.
I also started noticing how persistent greenery managed to grow in the cracks of concrete backyards and along roadsides, stubbornly reclaiming bits of the urban landscape. It's a reminder that nature finds a way, even in the city:
My recent dabbling in houseplants had given me a basic appreciation for flora, but these walks have turned that casual interest into something more. I'm no botanist, but I find myself looking up the names of plants I encounter and learning about which ones are native to the area. It's become a bit of a game, trying to identify what I see along the way.
The Unexpected Symphony of the City
As I became more attuned to my surroundings, I started noticing the diverse bird sounds in BC, especially near creeks and water bodies. This wasn't something I paid much attention to before. Now, with the help of the Merlin Bird ID app, I've been going around recognising birds, each identified birdsong adding a new note to the city's symphony.
But it's not just natural sounds that caught my attention. I was delighted to discover that many crosswalk signals in Vancouver mimic bird sounds. This urban echo of nature felt like a secret shared between me and the city, a quirk I might never have noticed without these intentional walks.
The Character of Neighbourhoods
My walks have also given me a new appreciation for the unique character of Vancouver's neighbourhoods. The “Vancouver Special” houses, with their distinctive architecture and often quirky lawn sculptures, have become landmarks on my journeys. Each one I spot feels like a nod to the city's history and the individual stories of its inhabitants.
I've noticed stark contrasts between residential neighbourhoods — from meticulously manicured lawns to eclectic yard decorations, and even some peculiar 'urban art' installations.
Challenges
These walks haven't been without hurdles. I've encountered issues with road infrastructure and bike-ability, sometimes having to rethink routes due to non-existent or flooded sidewalks. These obstacles have made me reflect on urban planning and accessibility issues I observe as a third party who's never been in this city. I find myself with many questions, perhaps worth exploring in future posts.
Conclusion
These walks have transformed how I experience Vancouver and reshaped my lifestyle. Every step has been a discovery, revealing layers of the city I never knew existed and unveiling capabilities within myself I didn't know I possessed. From birdsongs to urban design quirks, from seasonal changes in gardens to the hidden histories in architecture, my walks have become a journey of continuous learning and personal growth.
There's so much more I've noticed during these walks—far too much to cover in a single post. I hope to go into those observations in future blog posts as I continue my adventures.
If you see someone enthusiastically exploring Vancouver on foot, pausing to admire a leaf or listening to a birdsong, it might just be me!
