The Feeling of Abundance: A Walk Along the Delaware River
“What’s popping people? It’s Dante.”
Walking along the Delaware River here at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia brings me an overwhelming sense of abundance. The construction nearby hints at future transformation—a park soon to open—but the river’s presence remains constant, steady, timeless. I’m surrounded by familiar sights: the Ben Franklin Bridge arching over the water and the Ben Franklin Boat passing by. Each step brings this indescribable feeling, one I’ll try to put into words.
Walking in Solitude
When I walk here, I embrace solitude. It’s just me, my thoughts, and the quiet hum of the river. Sometimes, I talk out loud, working through ideas or letting random thoughts surface—my photography, my future, opinions on things that don’t have clear answers. At other times, I just let my mind go silent. This ebb and flow between deep thought and complete quiet creates a kind of bliss. I look out at the glittering sun on the water, the bridge busy with people, and realize how alone yet content I am. It’s like a third-person perspective, almost as if I’m viewing myself from above, detached but fully present.
The Empowerment of Water and Flow
“There’s something about being by the water… it’s quite empowering.”
The river’s constant flow reminds me of the generations who walked along this same path. I feel grateful to be here, under the same sun that shone on so many before me. This sense of abundance feels tied to the physical joy of being under the sunlight. In the city, the skyscrapers block a lot of light, but here, the open sky lets the sun pour down. I feel it physically—muscles moving, chemicals like serotonin and dopamine releasing. It’s a feeling of bliss, a taste of paradise, just by walking here with nothing in view but the river and the horizon.
Finding Bliss by the Water
The Delaware River feels like my own ocean here in Philadelphia. Sure, I love the Schuylkill River, but the Delaware is more expansive, almost beach-like. The vastness uplifts me, creating that feeling of abundance that I can’t fully describe. I’ve come to this spot countless times, yet each visit renews my Lust for Life.
- Sunlight and Muscle Movement: Being under open sunlight releases chemicals that heighten physical well-being.
- Eternal Return: Revisiting the same spot deepens the experience, making each walk a new encounter with a familiar place.
- Connection with the Universe: Feeling both small in the vastness and as if I am the universe itself, everything connected.
Memories, Flashbacks, and Timelessness
“I think of all the memories I have through my experiences photographing all over the world or in my city… even just coming back to this location, time and time again, for over a decade.”
I remember coming here back in high school, one of the first places I photographed. Now, years later, I’m still drawn to this spot. Each time I approach the sign welcoming me to Penn’s Landing, I close my eyes for a second and feel a rush of all the times I’ve walked this path. It’s like a thousand memories flash at once, blending into a single moment of abundance. I’ve walked this route thousands of times, each step marking the same view but with a different perspective.
The Beauty of the Journey
“The outskirts of Philadelphia… just walking by myself reminds me of how open and endless the world is.”
There’s something profound about returning to the same place repeatedly. It’s a simple walk, yet each visit feels like a new encounter. The river, open sky, and solitude remind me of how vast the world is and how much there is to experience. Standing by the water, I feel the endless possibilities, the uncharted paths that lie ahead. This is my version of abundance—simple, beautiful, eternal.
Each step along the Delaware River brings me closer to a feeling I can only describe as abundant bliss. I’m grateful for these moments, for this connection to nature, for the river that flows as it has for generations before me and will continue to long after I’m gone.