Day 38

As I walked through the city, I came across many things that made me appreciate San Francisco:

• An air station for the bicyclist who finds their tire getting low
• A fence decorated with beautifully tie-dye painted locks
• A peaceful protest happening in downtown

I also came across things that made me pause and take notice:

• People sleeping on the sidewalk with the bustle of the city going on around them
• A man in a wheelchair with a sign that read “Why lie? I need money for beer.” I greeted this man and asked him if we might talk a bit. We discussed the idea of peace, and as we talked, I could smell the alcohol coming out of his pores. I was also aware of how many times he smiled during our conversation, and I asked if he feels peaceful. He answered “Of course! The rain has stopped, I have a beer and I’m talking with a lovely girl and her dog!” When we finished our conversation, I asked if I could take his picture, and he declined.

I was was quite moved by the things I saw as I made my way through the city, and decided that for the remainder of the day, I would walk in silence – allowing myself the space to feel through them.

At the top of Market Street, I took this picture in the electric windy sunshine that is San Francisco.

And as I headed into Daly City, I came across a sign that reminded me to be curious, and another sign that reminded me of a time when I was job hunting and how grateful I would have been to come across such a generous offer.

At the end of the day, I was grateful for the wind that made me feel truly awake and alive, for the conversation earlier in the day that made me decide to take some time in silence, and for the end of another full, incredible day on the Walk for PEACE.