Walking with Insight In Our Own Shoes

Juan Carlos Reyes, MFA is an Assistant Professor teaching Creative Writing. Juan was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. He’s the product of a math degree, though only words hold his attention anymore. His book, A Summer’s Lynching, won the Quarterly West 2016 novella prize, and his chapbook, Elements of a Bystander, won the 2016 Arcadia Press Chapbook Prize. His stories, poems and essays have appeared in Ascentos Review, KGB Lit, andHawai’i Review, among others.

CENTERING WISDOM

1. Reflection: What potential challenges come with walking in someone else's shoes? When can the practice be beneficial? When can it be harmful?

2. Reflection: Have you gone on a walk with no destination or time constraints? What was that experience like? If you haven't, what has kept you from this practice?

3. Activity:Choose a virtual place that normally would be inaccessible to you in this moment (ex. Another country or another state) and virtually take a walk down one of the streets. Imagine what being there is like. Imagine what the buildings are used for, what the people on this street are doing at any given moment. How does your perspective about this street intersect with theirs?

Links for You to Consider

Want to be more creative? Go for a walk Links to an external site.

The Importance of Sharing Experiences Links to an external site.

Why You Should Find Time to Be Alone With Yourself Links to an external site.