Doctor’s L.A. Perimeter Walk Yields a Simple Prescription: Explore Beyond Your Routine
SAN PEDRO, Calif. – After completing a 1,300-mile trek around the entire perimeter of Los Angeles County, Dr. Roy Meals has distilled his observations into a new book and a straightforward advice: deliberately venture outside familiar surroundings.Meals’ journey,undertaken over several years,wasn’t about physical endurance,but a focused practise of observation and a challenge to ingrained habits of place.
The physician’s exploration, documented in his book, arrives as studies increasingly highlight the benefits of novelty and exposure to diverse environments for mental well-being. In an era defined by hyper-localization and digital echo chambers,Meals’ work offers a tangible antidote – a call to rediscover the richness and unexpected details within our own metropolitan landscape.His advice resonates particularly now, as routines solidify post-pandemic and many individuals remain tethered to limited geographic areas.
Meals, speaking to the Los Angeles Times, explained his evolving perspective during the walk. “If anything,” he said, “I’m quicker to look at small things. You know, stop and appreciate a flower, or even just an engaging pattern of shadows on the street.”
The impetus for the walk wasn’t a specific research question,but a growing sense of confinement. Meals began systematically exploring the county’s edges, documenting his experiences and the subtle shifts in environment and community. He walked along paths like the L.A. Harbor West Path in San pedro, meticulously noting details frequently enough overlooked by those rushing through their daily lives.
The core message of his work, Meals stated, is remarkably concise. “Basically, just slow down and look.”
His book encourages readers to adopt a similar mindset,actively seeking out new perspectives by simply changing their routes,exploring different neighborhoods,and paying attention to the frequently enough-unnoticed elements of the urban and natural world.Readers can reach Steve Lopez at steve.lopez@latimes.com.
