Walking on ice

Walking on ice

To become a “walker” one must free themselves from all external obligations and focus on maximizing the happiness of oneself and others. The journey of walking is that of a spiritual and emotional adventure that is guided by oneself and God. One can not be forced to walk; the pursuit of walking is a mutual existence in which the journey and person become intertwined. My personal “walking” is when I play pond hockey. When I am on the ice, nothing else matters. For a couple of hours I can free myself from all other obligations and capture the pleasure, liberty, and peacefulness that pond hockey has to offer. Thoreau describes, “You must be born into a family of walkers” (Thoreau 111). Although I was not born into a family of skaters, in fact I was the first person in my family to skate, my upbringing fostered my love for the game of hockey.

Ever since I was a young child, my frozen local pond has been my favorite source of pastime. Thoreau describes walking as, “nothing in it akin to taking exercise” (Thoreau 112). Similarly, I do not consider pond hockey as exercise; I can get lost in the enjoyment of pond hockey for hours. I simply enjoy hockey in its most natural and free flowing form; no referees, heckling fans, cutthroat coaches, college scouts, or player agents- just me and my boys. No rules to slow the pace, no systems to constrict the flow, and no hitting to foster hostility. No memory of my mistakes in the last game, last shift, or last play. Although sometimes directionless and sauntering, playing pond hockey is soothing to the soul and the manner in which I find my true inner peace. Pond hockey can provide many people with a similar sense fulfilment because of the ease of accessibility and brotherly unity that is developed within minutes of playing with someone. Likewise, Thoreau states, “No wealth can buy the requisite leisure, freedom, and independence which are the capital in this profession” (Thoreau 112). No monetary value can provide one with the utopian state that is achieved when walking.

Much of the beauty of pond hockey is connected to the allure of nature. Thoreau describes walking as a quest, “to go forth and reconquer this Holy Land from the hands of the Infidels" (Thoreau 110). In this sense, infidels are non believers that tarnish the beauty of the Holy Land, while the local pond is my Holy Land of hockey. Similarly, the infidels of hockey are the grinders; the agitators that contribute to the team by attempting to injure the skill players on the other team. Grinders have a misguided role that has no place in the Holy Land of pond hockey. Thoreau furthers his description of the Holy Land when he states, “So we saunter toward the Holy Land, till one day the sun shall shine more brightly than ever he has done, shall perchance shine into our minds and hearts, and light up our whole lives with a great awakening light, as warm and serene and golden as on a bankside in autumn” (Thoreau 135). Comparably, pond hockey provides me with an emotional and psychological outlet that temporarily relieves my frustrations and elicits joy and affection. Thoreau continues his description of nature by portraying his neighbourhood and its surrounding area as a location to escape reality and enter a state of temporary euphoria and tranquility. Similarly, my favorite place to place pond hockey is at my local pond. I learned how skate on this pond and have grown up playing there with many of the same players for fourteen years. It is easy to lose track of time; my mother would often call me well past midnight wondering when I would be home. Thoreau acknowledges that the environment affects one’s walk when he states, “For I believe that climate does thus react on man--as there is something in the mountain air that feeds the spirit and inspires” (Thoreau 119). Equivalently, skating outside with the crisp air, falling snow, and clear night sky, rather than a monotone, fluorescent lit rink with the stale smell of fast food is the difference between walking and playing hockey.

Although Walking was written nearly 150 years ago, Thoreau's comments on difficulties that many young people faced in that era are applicable to youth today. Thoreau foresees, “When we should still be growing children, we are already little men” (Thoreau 129). I would consider myself, and many of my pond hockey counterparts to be little men, although most of us are still teenagers. Pond hockey provides us with an escape from the pressures of college, recruitment, and the constant pressure to improve our resumes. Fittingly, Thoreau also notes, “Many a poor sore-eyed student that I have heard of would grow faster, both intellectually and physically, if, instead of sitting up so very late, he honestly slumbered a fool's allowance” (Thoreau 129). This image parallels my life that is spent worrying about grades, SAT scores’, college applications and winning the next hockey game. I would benefit from untroubled relaxation. Thoreau remarks, “In short, all good things are wild and free” (Thoreau 126). I hope that after I mature and surpass my intense adolescent years that I can shed the burden of expectations, free my soul, and find more time to appreciate life.