Walking in public can turn into a manual performance. You monitor your arms, posture, pace and where you're looking, adjusting each part while trying to appear as though none of it requires thought.
- deciding how much your arms should swing as someone approaches
- changing pace because you're unsure whether you're walking too fast
- thinking about where to look while passing people on the footpath
- becoming suddenly aware of every step after entering a crowded room
Looks vs reality
The same Experience can look very different from the outside than it feels on the inside.
"You look so relaxed just taking a stroll."
My brain is running a full diagnostic: Are my arms swinging too much? Is my pace weird? Am I blinking correctly? This is not a stroll; it's a mission.
"You're walking a little funny. Are you okay?"
The manual override just failed. My legs have forgotten their instructions. Please do not perceive me while the system reboots.
"You seem so lost in thought."
Oh, I am. The thought is: 'Left foot, now right foot, swing arms, but not like a cartoon character. Look ahead. Do humans' necks do this?'
"You look really determined and focused."
My entire focus is dedicated to not tripping over a flat surface because I just spent ten seconds analyzing my own ankle rotation.
"Why did you just stop all of a sudden?"
My processor overheated while trying to calculate the correct walking speed to pass someone without being awkward. It required a hard reset.
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