Morning walk delights

My attempts at morning walks over the last decade have been either short-lived or proved futile even before start. Try hard as I might, pulling myself out of the bed in those wee hours proved a headache, so much that even if I woke up for some reason, I would dive right back into the coziness of my blanket.

I would wonder where the zeal to get out of home came from when I had an outstation assignment. I would be out by 6 am, hop into a cab to head for a nearby district and get home late night. Even watching my dad take his morning walk to buy milk did not succeed in dragging me out of the bed.

In the months after marriage, I would be pushed by my husband to hit the road, but I just never did. I depend on my husband for the walks. Everytime he suggested walk, I would goad him to come along and insist, `if you do, I will get inspired'. He never got around to it at daybreak, though we'd take our little walks at night.

I would listen to advice from friends, only wishing I actually did it some day, never gathering enough will. No wonder my health ran right out of the window, leaving me frail. My health troubles recently hit the roof and my frustration peaked so high I thought it was the end.

 

If ever I got up in the middle of my sleep one of these days, I would stand by the window, watch the road, watch the several windows in the building opposite our windows, kitchen routines when lights glowed in the morning dark, and get back to sleep.

One such window gaping session stirred me. Between 5.30 am and 6.15 am, a mother and her daughter get ready, with all their work and school material, moving about with ease at their home. At about quarter past six, they are out of their home, with daybreak still a long way away. I watched them for six days...and realised it was their routine on Saturdays too. Not sure about Sundays though. 

What am I doing? Look at them, living on road, hardly at home, and yet up and awake the next morning! 

When my husband made a weekend trip down to Bangalore over the R-Day break, I thought of giving that morning walk bit a try once more. 

The difference this time: I did not push myself to it. I must admit that over the last many attempts, I lost out because of pushing myself into it. Somewhere between a brisk-walk day and lazy winter morning, I would lose the energy. I decided to explore it this time, not drive myself up the wall. Have done it for a mere six days till now. And earned delights that many times more.

Like the birds having their breakfast which I have written about in my earlier post. Then the huge walker traffic. Like an elderly neighbour on the first floor of my building wing who I never knew before, but who smiles warmly in the morning chill - start to friendship! 

The best of all delights is that beautiful sunrise view when I walk up the road. From where a couple of hills overlook Film City, Aarey Colony, their jungles, sets and fields between. These are winter's best days. Nothing more exciting than to watch cottony mist settle between clusters of trees and permeate the daybreak chill. 

It's the time of the day when milk distributors and newspaper boys are scurrying between buildings to provide those supplies. It is when some housewives are busy in the kitchens, wrapping up lunches and breakfasts for their spouses.

I discovered how late the sun rises in this part of India. So unlike Chennai that gets its daybreak at about 5.30 am and Bangalore that lazily wakes up at about 7 am. As for the walkers, there are those who make sure to touch the end of the road that breaks on top of the hilly slope, to descend into film city. Non-motorable as there is a mound of mud at the sudden descent that has not been flattened on to the road, probably on purpose to avoid traffic.

A Suryanamaskar by an elderly gentleman, some neck exercises by others, a group of women beginning their day with sunrise smiles, office-goers taking a quick look at the view while waiting for their buses...

A couple of days back, I watched a laughter club group have its impromptu morning session and laugh away to glory - probably common to parks in neighbourhoods. But a delight to watch out here.

The other day I veered off my regular walking track and moved further than usual. Another delight: an entrepreneur selling juice - health juices without sugar. Ginger, Tulsi, Pudina, Bittergourd, carrot, beetroot, and some more varieties. 

He arranges them on a wooden plank that he places on his two-wheeler's seat, by an obscure corner. Tied up to the seat's rear handle, is a plastic cover to trash the plastic cups in. Entrepreneurship at its best.  And walkers delight in the mix of juices giving them that content feeling. Only wish he had paper cups instead. 

Some days, I walk for longer. Some days, for sometime lesser. What I only hope is that this new-found enthusiasm of mine is not short-term. I wish this one's for lifetime - this spurt of energy that makes me get up at daybreak even if I have missed a good sleep. I pray these delights last long...for a lifetime.

Am a lot more active than a few days before. So it should work!