[Townhall] Walking in solitude certainly has its place. The beauty of getting lost in one’s thoughts, with only the birds and the hum of the city to serve as a light lullaby, luring us deeper into our own mindful processing, indeed channels Thoreau. But there is no contest of Mindfulness vs. Dodging Assaults. We are once again charged with the goal of maintaining an action or item we want – (walking in solitude) - while eliminating or mitigating the risks. Enter isolated walking companionship – where strangers walk together with the appearance of unity but with only minimal acknowledgment of each other. I’ve coined the phrase – “ Synchronized Anonymous Walkers” (SAW) to describe the unspoken agreement where strangers walk together, acting like they know each other with impromptu conversations about the weather or logistics, yet the unspoken subtext is – this street suddenly feels alarming, no police in sight. I just need to make it to the next block and turn in peace; thanks for understanding as you accept my polite compliment for your coat.
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