As the pandemic approaches its two-year anniversary, people all over the world are feeling the effects of extended isolation.
A couple in London, England decided to do something about the loneliness and created a fun way for people to re-connect outdoors. It's called Talk the Walk, and it's a great initiative.
We all experience it sometimes. But in the age of social distancing and avoiding crowds, it feels more present than ever.
Londoners Jake Williams and Charlotte Sinclair were feeling the pandemic blues, so they started a grassroots program that's since exploded in popularity.
The program is simple: organize a series of walks for anyone who'd like to attend. Of course, for those who are wary about COVID-19, outdoor gatherings like the ones hosted by Talk the Walk have a lower risk of transmission than indoor gatherings.
The top goal, like most good top goals, is to have fun. Jake and Charlotte set up meetups every so often, sometimes with a theme — sometimes a seasonal one like Halloween, other times with a geographical goal like exploring a certain region of London.
Since most of the people who show up to the events are strangers to one another, Jake and Charlotte start each event with some icebreaker games, designed to ease even the deepest introvert into socializing with strangers.
While earlier events attracted a more modest crowd, word of mouth ensured that Talk the Walk became the talk of the town. They now routinely get two to three hundred people walking around at their events.
"London is quite an unfriendly place," Jake told MyLondon. "People are in a terrible mood. And people are very fearful now after COVID, and there's a huge amount of disconnection. I think people are more upset now than they've ever been."
After the icebreaker games, the walk begins. The couple makes an effort to swap people up so they get a chance to converse with different folks.
"The mix between genders is really surprising," Jake said. "Pretty much split 50/50. Majority of people probably in the age range of 20 to 45."
From the first events, which a small smattering of people attended, things have grown to include hundreds. Jake says he's invested in a megaphone to make it easier to give instructions to the crowd.
"You see older people talking to young people, and everyone getting on and having great chats," Charlotte said.
While the pandemic has been tough on everyone, it's incredible to see some of the initiatives it's inspired.
