Take a moment to imagine the following:
You are sitting on your couch with your girlfriends, watching the premier of this season of the Bachelorette, eating popcorn with M&Ms mixed in (the best way to snack). You are introduced to several potential suitors for the lady in question. You and your friends gossip about who has the best hair, who is well-spoken, and who you would pick if you happened to become the Bachelorette. You start talking louder, tuning out the voices on the screen. You are laughing with your friend when you hear the potential suitor on the screen talk about himself and his interests.
He likes long walks on the beach. How cliche!
To preface the rest of this article, it is not about reality TV, or my favorite showtime snacks (although that would make for a great article). It is instead a description of why I firmly believe that long walks, on or off the beach, are invaluable.
Let’s rewind to 2020. The pandemic had just begun, and masks were the new norm. In my house, we washed off our groceries, wore gloves everywhere, and stayed well over six feet apart from others. Once COVID-19 was no longer a mystery, my parents began to let my brother and I social distance from friends outside.
I am from New York; unfortunately, our winter season typically lasts way too long (fingers crossed for this year’s Groundhogs day). Nonetheless, as March and April remained brisk, sitting outside with friends did not seem like the best plan. That is when we conveniently discovered our neighborhood’s beautiful Mountain Biking Trail.
From then on, I went on walks with different friends almost every day in 2020. We bundled up if it was cold, put on our masks, and headed for the trail. Do not let the name “Mountain Biking Trail” fool you. This trail is relatively flat and the perfect social opportunity for families, kids, and teens who had been stuck inside for too many days.
I became extremely passionate about health and wellness during the pandemic. I would take walks outside with my mom, a friend, a group, or even by myself. It allowed me to clear my head during a highly stressful period in my life that consisted of applying to college, the workload of senior year, and masks.
I chose to come to Tulane for many reasons, but I can’t lie: the weather was a significant pro on my list. I never liked New York winters, and wanted to have the ability to spend as much of my time outside as possible.
I discovered Audubon Park before Hurricane Ida hit last August. Past the spectacle of the Bead Tree and Gibson Hall stands Audubon Park, a 300-acre oasis with about 2 miles of paved walking trails. Looking back, I am utterly ashamed of my first outing in Audubon – I walked left first instead of right (I know, how embarrassing, right?). Since then, I have visited Audubon as frequently as I can. I go there for peace and quiet to call my family at home. When I have an exam, I take a trip to Audubon to rest my mind. I often go with my sorority big to count the dogs we see as we walk around the park. Whenever I make a new friend, I suggest we go to the park to talk and learn about each other. I have explored the other side of Audubon and love going to the Fly on Fridays with friends to wind down a the end of a busy week. As I strolled along its path yesterday, I saw the taping of Amazon Prime Videos’ “Your Honor.” I waved at Bryan Cranston from across the way without realizing I was in the presence of Walter White from Breaking Bad.
As you can see, I am not well-versed in television, reality TV, and maybe even movie snacks. However, if you ever want to take a long walk to talk about everything and anything, I am your girl. And in my opinion, that is the most attractive quality any individual can possess; the desire to learn about me, my interests, passions, and truths through uninterrupted conversation. Although cliche, I will take a long walk on or off the beach anytime.
Featured image via Bailey Germain
About Bailey Germain
Bailey is the Assistant Editor for College Life. She is a Sophomore majoring in Marketing and Management and minoring in Psychology. She loves to write about her experiences and give advice to her peers. When she isn't writing, you can find her at Riley or her favorite New Orleans restaurant Satsuma.
Bailey is the Assistant Editor for College Life. She is a Sophomore majoring in Marketing and Management and minoring in Psychology. She loves to write about her experiences and give advice to her peers. When she isn't writing, you can find her at Riley or her favorite New Orleans restaurant Satsuma.
Finally, someone who shares my passion for going on walks!! They truly have changed my life in college and we have such a walkable neighborhood around Tulane that there’s no reason to not do it!