Glimmering drops of water hang off the bottom of my clear umbrella as I walk along Villa Drive, leaves crackling under my shoes. This was a street I had grown accustomed to on my many walks during spring break. A crisp, frigid air hits me as a nostalgic scent of wet asphalt permeates the air, the gentle lull of drizzling rain calming me as I take a break from the screens and inactivity at home.

Ever since the stay-at-home orders were put into place, I’ve been trying to adjust to the inactive and mundane lifestyle. The fresh air outside pulled me away from my devices, and I tried to walk in my neighborhood at least once every day to take my mind off the chaos.

At first, I realized how many of the roads and pathways I didn’t know and it surprised me that I knew so little about my own home environment. After a few weeks, these walks became my norm and it gave me a space to reflect on the current situation of our world. I found the perfect route that gave me the right amount of exercise and provided the most scenic views. It made me feel closer to my neighborhood. 

These walks were the perfect way to take a step back to assess how much our society’s lifestyles have changed in a matter of a few months. It was very sudden the way we began online learning and quarantine, so some alone time has been the best way to let my mind wander from all the adjustments we as a community have had to take on. These habitual breaks have allowed me to get some time in my day where I can just think about how my day went and understand more about how my online learning that day.

From the pink chalk writing on driveways saying, “Have a nice walk!” to the people that smiled at me as I passed them, it gave me a valuable sense of community that I needed in our current world of social distancing.