During my previous 8-month internship, I walked the same 21-minute route to work and back.
On the way to work, I would listen to YouTube videos and podcasts.
On the way home, I would have my head in the clouds and plan the rest of my day.
The above activities kept my walks productive…
**but it came with a price.**
I fell into the trap Oliver Burkeman highlights in _Four Thousand Weeks_,
> [People are] like donkeys running after carrots that are hanging in front of their faces from sticks attached to their own collars. They are never here. They never get there. They are never alive.
_They are never alive_…
When I look back at those 56 hours spent, I find it hard to recall the physical walk itself.
Too busy focusing on anything but the present, I rarely put in the effort to just admire the overall experience and neglected this unique moment in my life **160 times**.
So today, I made amends.
I dusted off my camera and went on the walk one last time with my cousin to do some street photography.
This time, I was fully devoted to admiring the journey through my senses.
Admiring the towering skyscrapers, scents of restaurant food, and busy streets.
Exploring the little detours and landmarks along the way, framing them through my physical and digital lens.
Taking moments to do a little spin and spot neat photo compositions that I once overlooked.
Now, I can confidently claim I went on that walk, and have memories of it as well.
**What experience are you going to immerse yourself in?**