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Jan 17, 2023Liked by Abby Rasminsky

I love this, Abby! The ease of using the body to navigate your life. The way it should be. When I lived in Niger for three months in 2006, I suddenly lost 30 lbs. I was sure I had cancer. But it was actually just the walking. Walking everywhere, all the time, as part of life. Not intentional exercise, just what it took to navigate my day. It felt great. So happy that your body is serving you well, thriving. March on!

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Love it. Thank you, Abby!

On a personal note: I'm huge. I've always been big, but it used to be mostly muscle with a little "complement" of fat here and there. I'm still muscular, but very fat now. I still get around with little issue (other than a mast cell and connective tissue disorders finding unique ways to eff with me in each season).

I prefer this lifestyle of walking everywhere, intentionally living car-free. I get it.

And with my various health issues, I learned at around 30 that trying to "look healthy" (translating to "be thin," according to many) was never achievable for me. *Feeling good* is what has to matter.

"This is how I want to live in my body: actively, joyfully, and without restriction." Amen.

As an aside: I live in Seattle. It's definitely not as quaint as Cambridge seems, but I love it and walk most of the time. The mild climate year-round helps, and I'd highly recommend checking out the city if LA doesn't have to be where you land.

I appreciate this post so much!

My best,

Sara

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This is what I love about living in nyc. I am constantly schlepping which turns out to be a great workout!

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This is so good. Made my heart warm. xx

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Jan 17, 2023Liked by Abby Rasminsky

This is wonderful!! So beautiful & so moving. You painted such a lovely picture of your new life. xo

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Loved this!

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I have been meaning to comment for a while since originally reading your piece as it really resonated with me. I've spent the past decade living in LA, having moved here fresh out of collage at 22, and so often have felt this longing to just walk without a plan, a good old fashioned wander, or even to walk with a purpose that has only ever really felt achievable in certain areas of my neighborhood or if I have an abundance of time. Often times, for some reason, I can feel this resistance to going by foot. Whether it's from myself or maybe the city itself; somehow along the way walking came to feel like this luxury, only achievable with the right time and energy which I didn't always have after work desk jobs and driving hours each way, or as an exercise. I miss it. I miss the way I feel when I'm in other cities that are designed around walking and people moving not solely in cars, and then wonder how I can hold onto that version when I come back home and resettle. Before I moved here, I'd spent time in Cambridge as a student and felt so connected to my body. (Not to mention how much I absolutely loved being and living there.) It was my source of transport, it was how I explored the city and how I expressed myself, it was how I connected with new friends. I felt so in tune to my younger self then, and sometimes wonder how to get back to her. This is all to say that I love this piece and am grateful to you for putting it down in words. It's definitely stuck with me as I think about how moving is so connected to living.

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