Trip #414 Universal Street, Sheraden, Pittsburgh took place on February 24, 2020, and was published on March 18, 2020.
A few years back, I read Jon Kabat-Zinn’s book, “Wherever You Go, There You Are,” and as I travel along these stairs, I’m reminded of how easy it is to experience surface-level happiness when we’re surrounded by people or places we enjoy. And as a result, we often throw ourselves into a never-ending loop of seeking gratification from the outside world. But what happens when our mind starts complaining about being “stuck” in the same place, doing ordinary tasks, alone or with people we have little connection with? That is when we are put to the test. Can our hearts stay open and joyful when our minds are telling us otherwise?
Field Notes: The first part of this flight along Universal Street is open and clear, but the second half is informally closed – the concrete has decayed and fallen apart.
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
See the Risograph print of this photo and story in the Mis.Steps Shop.
Be a good neighbor! Have you visited these stairs and found them in poor condition or that illegal dumping (large items like tires, old furniture, and construction debris) and trash were abundant in the area? There are two things you can do to take action and make our city steps cleaner and safer for everyone! First, grab a photo if you can, and submit a report to Pittsburgh 311. All problems, both broken stairs, and railings, as well as trash and dumping, should be reported to the city. You can easily do this online or by calling.
