Trip #454 Attell Way to Rydal Street, Westwood, Pittsburgh took place on June 7, 2020, and was published on June 24, 2020.
Imagine sitting in a comfortable chair, in a room with the lighting just right, no distractions or demands, loud noises, or unpleasant odors. Doesn’t this sound like the perfect place to let yourself relax and be calm? While spending time in these carefully controlled spaces certainly feels good, it doesn’t adequately prepare us for keeping our cool when the environment is less than ideal. Many years ago, I attended yoga and meditation classes at a studio on a busy, narrow street in a small town known for hiking and rock-climbing. From April through November, a seemingly never-ending parade of noisy vehicles traveled that street heading out to the mountains or back to the highway. Early on, I asked my teacher if he ever considered moving to a quieter place where the sounds of traffic wouldn’t surround us. His answer was quick and straightforward. If you can learn to quiet your mind here, you’ll be able to stay calm and at peace anywhere you go.
Field Notes: This is a continuation of the flight that runs along Milnor Street. Other segments are visits #444 and #445.
See the Risograph print of this photo and story in the Mis.Steps Shop.
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
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.
