Danielle Hawkins- Walking Thoreau

 A friend recommend that I read Walking before I do the AT. I thoroughly enjoyed Thoreau's writing and this piece. There were many parts of this lecture that I highly resinated with or was really encouraged by. I encourage anyone who enjoys time outside to read this piece! One part that was a lovely retelling of one of his walks was that he has not yet exhausted the same loop yet. I think He makes an interesting point that "it will never become quite familiar to you." I experienced this a few weeks ago while walking the Noland trail, my friend Regan and I were walking in preparation for the AT. I saw a huge stump and was in awe and wonder of its vastness and that I had never seen it before. I was shocked that I had never seen it before (as I have walked the Noland sooooo many times). I had never thought that the atmosphere around me "will never become quite familiar to you." I have always thought myself to be a super observant person and that at some point in time I would see and know everything about the land. But if i am really walking, I don't think this is possible. It should actually be impossible. I should let the land speak to me as it is and should see it as something new to take in every time. Similar to people, you should never assume that you know everything about them. When this occurs I think we enter into a slump. This is almost as bad as Thoreau's idea of walking a mile in body but in in spirit. We should be aware and ready to take in afresh what is right in front of us.