Morning Walk Motivations

 

The motivation to go for morning walks may be myriad but can be broadly divided into four categories - health, pets, socializing, and spending some me-time.

Among those going for health reasons, there are the ageing fitness enthusiasts who can no longer run as Achilles tendonitis and sciatica have taken a toll on their legs. But they are in no mood to give up on their fitness goals.

They are pretty serious, often loners, and more or less in shape. They move at a brisk pace and see walking as a means to maintain good health parameters and keep the doctor away.

The second group is that of people who went easy on calories and now find that, thanks to their newly-acquired curves, they can no longer slip into their favourite jeans and dresses. As for motivation, they are a mixed bag – some stay on with their walking regimens while others give up once their calf muscles and knees can’t take any more strain. 

I sometimes come across a woman, who falls in this category, and wears t-shirts with very motivating slogans such as ‘Don’t give up’, ‘Stay strong’, ‘Donut tempt me.’

Then there are reluctant walkers. They put on the walking shoes because doctors have told them to do so. They may be recovering from complicated surgeries and are often on the wrong side of 40 or 50, with an unhealthy midriff bulge. Some are even akin to that of Sumo wrestlers.

Their motivation levels are pretty low and are often accompanied by their spouses. They amble along as they don't want to provoke their spouse’s wrath.

The socializers are mostly women and retired people. They come mainly to hang out with their friends and old colleagues. Conversations circle around movies, politics, and cricket. Burning calories is purely incidental. 

Then there are couples, mostly college students and young working professionals. They too amble along, sometimes holding hands, or hanging around in the vicinity exchanging sweet nothings.

Me-time seekers come generally alone. Their main purpose is to make and receive calls that can’t be done while at home, or listening to music. 

Another major category of walkers includes those who have pet dogs. Walking the dog can be a tricky business, and in some cases, it is difficult to make out who has the upper hand over the leash – the pet handler or the dog. Certain breeds are difficult to handle when they are restless and frustrated.

The pet handlers have a tough time ensuring that the dogs do not digress from the pre-determined course. The reason for digression can be many – ranging from some attractive scent to finding a bird or squirrel.

A major concern for pet handlers is the intimidation by stray dogs. These street-smart canines try to bully their privileged cousins, especially smaller breeds such as poodles and pugs, leaving pet handlers at their wits' end. Many even carry sticks to prevent such attacks.

With some city administrations acting tough on pet litter, many pet handlers are using dog poop scoopers while walking the dog. 

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Over a Cup of Tea

 

It started off as a mere fad. My extended family has contributed generously towards making India the diabetes capital of the world and continues to do so with a missionary zeal. Somehow I was overcome with the desire to break free from this herd.

As a small token I decided to forego sugar for my morning tea, though maintain the status quo regarding tea at other times and all my other insulin-hostile indulgences such as sweets, cakes and ice-creams.

I knew it was not an easy decision. I had on some occasions accidentally sipped the sugar-free tea meant for my father, only to recoil at its dour taste and reach for the sugar jar. Hence the skeptic in me felt that a week will be the max I will stick to my new fitness goal.

On day one I was sipping my morning cuppa as if it were one of those kashayams (liquid ayurvedic formulations) made by Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala. I was also reminded of those leafy herbal remedies I had taken while I was down with jaundice during my school days.

That was also probably the longest duration I took to finish my morning tea with my tongue and palate revolting against this 'tasteless' brew. And the skeptic in me savoured his 'I told you so' sneer.

But I did not give up. I soldiered on for a few more days, barring occasional relapses, more due to absent-mindedness than any mellowing of intent. Soon the morning cuppa sans sugar began to appear a bit more bearable, and my tongue and palate seemed more reconciled to the new fare.

Gradually I discovered that sugarless tea had its own taste and began to appreciate what tea connoisseurs have been saying all along:

• Tea is meant to be bitter like beer.

• It should be enjoyed without sugar.

• It is an acquired taste.

They look down upon those adding sugar and warn that they were destroying the taste of tea and instead tasting mere sugar.

Now more than a decade later I have been following this routine, barring while travelling. In fact, now mornings look tasteless if the first tea of the day has sugar in it.

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Grey’s Anatomy

Haircuts have now become a long-drawn affair, as it also involves colouring (the new-age term for dyeing). Though I feel lucky to still have a full crop of hair even after entering the wrong side of 50, but during every salon visit the proliferating silver linings on my scalp only aggravate the dark clouds of despair.

As the barber's scissors scythe through my hair mass, I notice that the grey cover is spreading like water hyacinths in our polluted water bodies. Its stranglehold over both the temple regions is complete and in other parts also vast swathes are facing a rapid depletion of melanin pigment cells.

I look at the mirror with the dread of a schoolkid checking the answer sheet of an exam he knows he had flunked. There is that sinking feeling while establishing an eye contact with my mirror image. However, I console myself thinking that this unvarnished grey's anatomy is a fleeting one and will soon give way to an airbrushed L'Oréal reality. 

During those moments my mortal dread is that if someone known to me enters the salon and gets a full-on view of my 5,000 shades of grey. Thankfully, so far, I have been spared those blushes.

As the barber diligently applies the hair colour, one feels the irritation once it coagulates and turns black. After a wash the hair has a too-good-to-be-true coal black shade and it takes a few days to attain normalcy.

A couple of weeks later the greys begin to reappear as the colour coating weakens and the 'grey shoots' pop up. Though many go for 'touch ups' I wait for the next haircut for a fresh coat.

So, this monthly exercise goes on ... I really envy celebrities like actor George Clooney, soccer coach Arsene Wenger and closer home Naseeruddin Shah, who proudly flaunt their greys. Also, some of my friends who never took up dyeing or gave it up recently. Wonder when I would muster enough courage to do that.

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Adding Zing to Nightlife

For the city's glitterati it was time for euphoria. They have been smarting under jibes from their counterparts in Mumbai and Delhi that Bangalore has no night life. The closing time of restaurants and bars at 11.30 pm was seen as too uptight. Now the government has decided to take baby steps towards extending the deadline to 1 am for eateries on all days and for bars on Fridays and Saturdays, though with a caveat of 'trial period' for three months.

The city youths and some advocacy groups drawn from the who is who of technology economy had all along felt that such early closing hours does not jell with a city of international repute. With general elections round the corner the netas feel tempted to toss crumbs to the electorate and what better way to woo first time voters than increasing party hours. However the guys who are actually smirking and hoping for a windfall are those from the liquor lobby.
 
The men in khaki were always seen as party poopers as they had all along been saying that the existing staff has been stretched to their limits and they badly need some fresh recruits. But they had to willy nilly fall in line after being assured the cold comfort of support from home guards.
 
However they are not the only ones opposing it. The message boards of various news reports on many web sites have a legion of naysayers saying that crime graph would spike. Those nostalgic about end of pensioner's paradise era in city felt it will only help rich 'outsiders' get sloshed and drive cars and motorcycles under the influence.
 
Many also point out that though it would be okay to keep bars open for longer hours at the central business districts, but those located in predominantly residential suburbs could make lives miserable for nearby residents. It would only mean loud music, eve teasing and alcohol fuelled wheelies and drag racing  in their neighbourhood.
 
But the advocates of extended nightlife counter that crowds out on roads well past midnight will provide the safety of numbers and crime will actually come down. Keeping bars open well past midnight will discourage binge drinking.
 
However amid this din of heavily polarised debate nobody is asking what actually constitutes night life? Is it just keeping bars and restaurants open? What about public transport system such as BMTC buses and Metros? Shouldn't they also ply till the closing hours of nightlife? In its present form the only people who can enjoy nightlife are those who have their own vehicle (preferably chauffeur driven as police alcometers will be working overtime) or can afford taxis and autos. For others the extension of nightlife has little meaning. Hence, the argument about safety of numbers rings hollow.
 
The reason why a city like Mumbai has a bustling nightlife and continues to be fairly safe is because its public transport system functions almost round the clock. The last suburban train from Churchgate and CST leaves at 1.45 am and then begins services for the next day by 4 am. Same is the case with its BEST buses. It not only provides the safety of numbers on the streets but dissuades auto and taxi drivers from charging a fortune.

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