I’ve noticed in my walks around Lake Harriet over the past year that there are different kinds of people at different hours. This can dramatically impact my mood or my experience of walking around the lake. I am curious as to what impression we leave of a community or town by the time our community or town is engaged.

“We can only evolve as much as the community we associate with.”

Choose your community!

Here are the communities I have seen walking around the lake. (the timing may be a little off but this is what I have seen from the lighter half of the year Mar21st-Sept21st.

pre-5:30am (PreDawners) Solo but not alone, peace seekers, happy. Usually walking sometimes running with a dog. Any season, any weather.

5:30-7:00am (Dawners) Happy, full of joy and opportunity with a zest to be alive. Joggers, walkers, friends, chatting, easy, solid walkers for exercise. Willing to risk the cold just to be in the beauty of nature. People make eye contact and say “Good Morning.” Few, if any have earbuds pumping music into their ears. They are listening to nature wake up. They are engaged in life. They are glad to see you.

6:30am - Solo runners start to appear.
6:45am - the attitude shift starts to occur.

7:00-7:30am (Should-ers) Schedules, workouts, and time is of the essence. No time for niceties. Disconnected - plugged in- mediated nature/exercise experience. Have to do this! Faster. Faster. The runners are in packs now. No “good mornings” No eye contact - offended if you do connect. If you are luck you might get a “hello” in response.

7:30-8:30am (Complainers) When the pairs of walkers start to talk loudly about work, money, relationships, business politics, national politics. Insular. No eye contact. No response to greetings.

8:00-9:00 (Casual-ers) Pairs taking strolls around the lake, good friends but tend to themselves unless you engage them in conversation because they are talking loud enough to be overheard. They don’t have be at work until 10 and/or they are solopreneurs. Fre

9:00- 11:30 (kidtime) Mothers and the occasional dad. dogs. kids are often in a bob and the parent is running. These are intensely focused but aware of their environment. Maximize the opportunity. Trios start to appear (men, women, mothers, business people)

11:30-1:30 (Noontimers) Exercise, relief to be out of the office. Don’t have much time. Mix of headphones and conversations usually about work. Lunchers by the shore and on the benches and sometimes walking.

2:00-4:00pm (kidtime)

4:00-5:30pm (Afternooners) Exercise, skaters, youth, mixed activities, socializing within groups. Cordial and offer “good afternoons”

5:15pm - the attitude starts to shift.

5:30-7:00pm (Me-ers) Can’t you see I’m working out! Style is important - what you are wearing says how important you are. You are here to work out and to be seen and if you really want to be seen you go jog around Lake Calhoun. If you are talking on the phone - you are important. Cellphones are with earbuds and a mic on the cord or the new bluetooth headsets. Stray conversations in the wind. There is work to be done. Headphones are par for the course if you are not talking on the phone. Runners come in packs usually in community team jerseys often talking about work or jibing eachother. No smiling unless you are joking with friends. No greetings unless you are picking up someone.

7:00-9:00pm (EveningStroller) More often in the summer than other seasons. Post dinner walks. Slower, casual, cordial, friendly. Good Evening.

It is just goes to show that thought creates and is reality. While I was typing these descriptions I felt my mood shift. I became suspicious of people. I became insular and then open then insular then open. I am now in a place of joy and gratitude. Did you have a similar exerience reading about them?