Wanderlust: A History of Walking by Rebecca Solnit
Wanderlust is “A profound and meandering modern classic about the historical, political and philosophical paths traced by walkers, their routes and the act of walking.”
Wanderlust was the first book I read written from the perspective of a woman. Not only that, but the first walking book I read. This book had a significant influence on me in a variety of ways. It opened my eyes to every topic discussed. It helped me understand how I felt about walking and what I wanted my photobook to touch on.
Whilst reading, I found a quote that stuck with me “It starts with a step and then another step and then another that add up like taps on a drum to a rhythm, the rhythm of walking.”.
When I read this phase, I stopped in my tracks. I had to write it down. As I continued reading Wanderlust, I kept reverting to the quote. It stuck with me, but only out of context. I couldn’t help but think my whole project started with a step. I shouldn’t let my anxiety stop me. My fears stop me from doing what I enjoy. Stop me from the feeling that I am constantly chasing. The freedom. The isolation. Just alone in a beautiful landscape with nothing but my thoughts and camera. I find walking is a therapy. It helps me understand what I am thinking and helps me process what is happening and how I should move forward. But it all starts with a step. Overcoming the fear starts with a step. One step. That’s nothing. One step. Overcoming my fear is manageable when you break it down into it starts with a step.
After finishing this book, I did not revisit it until a few weeks had passed. By this point, my project had developed, and the sequence for the photobook was almost finalist. However, I didn’t have a title. When I opened the book, the first Post-it note I saw was the quote it starts with a step. I felt right. I didn’t try any other titles. I knew. My project then became It Starts With A Step.
Other quotes that stuck with me:
“The mind is also a landscape of sorts, and that walking is one way to traverse it.”
“While the fewer wanderers, the more lonely and dangerous it really becomes”
“ The random, the unscreened, allows you to find what you don’t know you are looking for, and you don’t know a place until it surprises you”
