In todays society it seems we are always in a rush. Sometimes our bodies are moving in one direction and our minds are moving in the other. Thoughts can occupy so much of our attention that at times our bodies are on auto-pilot. We’ve been walking for so long that we don’t have to think much about it. That frees us up to think about important things as we walk. We can think about bills we have to pay and what we need to talk about later on with so and so. So many things can through our head, great ideas for the future or regrets of the past. Well, what about the present? What about that obstacle right in front of you that may potentially cause you to stumble or fall?
Being mindful of our surroundings sometimes takes a backseat. Falls can occur for a variety of reasons. Being able to see the hazards ahead of time will negate any injury due to our own personal negligence. I’ve seen many people trip while looking at phone screens. Other people who are not paying attention on foot or in vehicles can run into us and cause a fall. If we’re not paying attention either then some type of collision is imminent. I see people run into each other in the grocery store all the time from being distracted. We all know that cracks or uneven pavement is a definite hazard along with loose gravel and icy paths, these are just a couple of the myriad of obstacles that lie before us in the outside world. What about inside our own homes? Obstacles like toys and pet toys, spills and anything in our path that isn’t normally there can be hazardous as well. I’m not telling you anything new it’s just that we’ve navigated our home so much that we can almost walk around with our eyes closed and when we’re distracted that’s kind of what we do. All of the situations and obstacles in this paragraph can be avoided.
When we practice Tai Chi or other arts that teach us to observe ourselves and our surroundings hopefully we can take that awareness with us as we venture through our day to day lives. Often when I find myself driving and my thoughts begin to wander to the past or the future. I call my attention to landmarks I may not have noticed before or I take notice of different vehicles and their color or their license plates. This exercise keeps me in the present and helps keep me mindful of my surroundings. The same thing can be done when walking. You can observe the things in nature around you or the things that are happening now. This will help you notice any potential traps that might await, as opposed to if you are walking without awareness.
Sometimes there are falls that can surprise us even if we are paying attention. I mentioned icy paths before but what about the dreaded black ice? It is unseen and treacherous, or any surface that is much slippery than it appears. Life is not perfect and sometimes we do go down. It is advisable to have some ways of mitigating damage in case we do, especially as we get older. Falling can be more and more dangerous with aging. Knowing a few simple concepts and practicing them can make a big difference between an accident with minimal injury or a major occurrence.