A Winter Walk without Airpods

by | Jan 22, 2023 | Vanuatu, walking, winter | 20 comments

When did I start using AirPods on a solo walk? Three or four years ago? Maybe more. I started out listening to music, which was nice but not entirely satisfactory, especially when a favorite song made me want to sing along, or even worse, dance down the street.

Then I got in the habit of listening to podcasts as I walked.

Why? All my life I’ve taken walks without the need for additional entertainment. The walk always seemed to be enough. I could think my own thoughts as I strolled along, Or I could let my mind wander and just be until I arrived at my destination.

So, one day early in the new year, I left my AirPods at home and took a little walk along the streets not far from my home. It was a quiet wintry afternoon—lazy clouds forming and drifting away, bare-branched trees resting, saving their energy for spring, people walking their dogs, smiling and saying hello. Not much to see unless you looked closely at winter’s understated beauty.

Walking back, I noticed how happy and relaxed I felt. Maybe I should leave my AirPods at home more often, I thought. But this is 2023, and like most people, my habits have changed from the old days when the world seemed to be quieter. When it seemed to be enough. Has my brain been rewired by all the distractions out there competing for my attention?

A quiet walk reminds me that, even though my Airpods are ready and waiting for me to listen to that next great podcast, I can leave them home now and then.

20 Comments

  1. Maureen Rogers

    Interesting revelation Nicki!

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      I find our changing habits regarding the media interesting and how all of that fits into our day. Of course, everyone is different, but we’re all influenced to some extent–especially when today is compared with many decades ago.

      Reply
  2. Debs Carey

    I’ve walked without earpods ever since my daughter gave me a lecture on safety. That was years ago and I got used to walks being when I talked to myself, and worked stuff out in my head. I got comfortable with my thoughts, and was happy to use my phone to snap pics along the way instead (as you did). I’ve often thought of a friend of mine who does most of his “reading” on audio and wondered if I’m missing out, but think I’d now miss that quiet thinking time. Indeed, when I hibernate because of inclement weather, I do miss it.

    Hope you continue to enjoy your walking without earpods Nicki 🙂

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      One of my favorite things is walking while I look for good pictures to take and at the same time thinking how I might turn the photos into a blog. I used to paint. One of my favorite things to do then was to find a good spot and sit down and sketch the view or some small part of it.

      I know some people who enjoy audio books. When I read a book, though, most of the time, I want to read every word. With an audio book, would I be washing dishes while I’m listening and miss something? Of course the same thing could happen with a podcast. I guess I care more about books.

      Reply
      • Debs Carey

        Yes, with you on wanting to read every word. The only time listening works for me is when I cannot read a book – in bed after hours when it would wake my partner, during recovery after I’ve hurt my back and am desperate for the company of voices and words. Otherwise – no. I, too, care more about books 🙂

        Reply
        • Nicki Chen

          You mention being “desperate for the company of voices and words” after you hurt your back. I suspect one of the reasons I started listening to podcasts is that I’m a widow, which makes my house awfully quiet.

          Reply
  3. L. Marie

    Nicki, what beautiful photos!
    I usually walk in the quiet. I’m glad you found that place of quiet on your walk.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Usually we don’t think of a grayish day in winter as beautiful, but there’s beauty everywhere. And quiet is one of winter’s virtues.

      Reply
  4. Ally Bean

    I’ve never taken a walk with Air Pods so I guess I’m missing something– or maybe not? I like to be aware of my surrounding so listening to something else kind of scares me, truth be told.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      I understand your worry, Ally, but I’ve found that I can hear approaching cars and talk to fellow walkers. It helps that I walk along quiet, safe streets.

      Reply
  5. JudithWorks

    Lovely!
    I don’t have airpods.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      I know you take lots of walks, Judith, although you live in a livelier part of town than I do.

      Reply
  6. Annika Perry

    Nicki, it seems you came home rejuvenated and relaxed after a walk listening to just nature – maybe it is the way to go for a while. As young, I had a walkman which went with me everywhere but nowadays I prefer walking listening to the sounds of nature (etc) and drifting with my thoughts. Lovely photos from your walk – thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      I never had a Walkman. I guess I missed that time in music history. But, yes, over my lifetime, the vast majority of my solo walks have been quiet and listening to the sounds of nature. I remember one time, I was walking up the hill from our house on the Olympic Peninsula, and I stopped to pick some blackberries. As I reached for the berries, I heard a growl from the bushes. The growl was so low that it could only have been a cougar. It was probably a good thing that I wasn’t wearing Airpods that day.

      Reply
  7. Autumn

    I relish the quiet when I walk. Sometimes a family member calls from the East Coast (I walk early), and we chat (I have a blue tooth earpiece), but mainly it’s just me and the dogs and the birds waking up. When there’s really rough surf, I can hear the waves from a mile away. I also don’t like having my hearing blocked by music or a podcast–gotta make sure no one sneaks up on us. Though the only thing that’s tried sneaking so far are loose dogs. Even the boldest man or coyote isn’t likely to bother a woman walking 80-160 pounds of canine muscle. Which is just how I like it.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      It sounds like a lovely early morning walk, Autumn–the birds, the surf, and (I suppose) the panting of the dogs. I can’t hear the surf from my neighborhood, but I can smell the beach when it’s a low tide. It’s always a pleasure.

      Reply
  8. nrhatch

    I appreciate listening to ambient sounds while walking and biking. No air pods / podcasts for me.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      It seems that podcasts while walking are not too popular with some of the people I know.

      Reply
  9. Paddy Eger

    I find walking in the natural quiet of an early morning stimulates my creative thinking. I hope it does the same for you.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Walking outside is relaxing for me, but my most creative thinking comes while I’m taking a shower.

      Reply

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