I walk around my neighborhood a lot, which is probably why I stopped really seeing it. At some point, the streets near my house turned into mental shortcuts instead of places. I have favorite routes, the way people have favorite checkout lines at grocery stores. Efficient. Familiar. And entirely forgettable.
Most walks followed the same pattern. Headphones on. Brain elsewhere. My body was moving through scenery that my eyes barely registered anymore. But after zoning out during a recent walk, I thought I might inquire with ChatGPT about how to help me engage with the world during my walks. I asked it if it could make ordinary walks feel less repetitive without turning them into fitness challenges or productivity exercises.
