It’s come to this: In many American suburbs if you go out for a walk, people assume something’s wrong.
In Orland Park (a Chicago suburb) walking has become so out of place that multiple people asked my wife if she was alright. Of course these are friendly people with the best of intentions, it’s just funny to see this concern meanwhile seemingly blind to the health and financial toll that comes being behind the wheel.
In other cities, walking is necessary and prevalent, but still earns the label “pedestrian” and its negative stigma. Whatever pride we may take in exercising, when was the last time you declared yourself a pedestrian?
The list of advantages to walking is too long—and obvious—to get into here. On the flip side, multiple studies prove long commutes are bad for people’s health and productivity. And while Americans have decided that credit card debt and car loans are normal, nearly everyone longing for less debt and better health should ask themselves if that’s okay.
If you’re depressed despite a slew of new purchases, it doesn’t take a slew of scientists to explain why.
And if you’re showing concern about someone walking, look no further than your own rear-view mirror.
