For many people, the pandemic thus far has been anxiety-provoking and distressing. Many have also found themselves living a very dull and repetitive lifestyle since being stuck at home. With all the stress that’s surfacing from the threat of the virus itself, the latter definitely don’t make things much easier.
Due to how different life is during the C*********s, people have had to be a bit innovative in how they amuse themselves. Residents in the Greater Toronto Area recently found themselves engaging in silly walks down the sidewalk during the pandemic just for kicks.
Cynda Fleming is just one of many residents who decided to encourage the Toronto-based trend.
With inspiration from the 1970 sketch, “The Ministry of Silly Walks” by Monty Python, Fleming put up two signs in her front yard with the text, “You are now entering the Jurisdiction of Silly Walks. Commence Silly Walking Immediately!”
“I thought I could set up my own branch here in Leaside, so I did! Just for fun,” she explained.
Not long after she set up the signs, she noticed people following the jurisdiction instructions and having a total blast with the process.
“The very day I put them out, people started embracing the idea of doing a silly walk in this little zone here. It was quite amazing.”
Fleming loves to look out her front window to watch as people engage in all sorts of funny walks. Watching how creative her fellow Torontonians are while performing their silly walks and seeing how much fun they’re having puts an instant smile on her face.
“It’s everything from just a smile and a recognizing of Python, and you know, that idea of that absurd humor of Python. And then there are actually people who dedicate bike rides to this spot, do the silly walk, and then get back on their bikes and head on their way.”
And she’s encouraging people to do these silly walks for a very good reason.
“I just wanted to do this to bring some positivity into this crazy situation we’re in right now and it just, I think, gives permission for people to be positive and silly,” she said.
With how we’re all feeling right now, I’m sure people find it relieving to see something enjoyable as they walk past Fleming’s house!
“It’s just about making fun of yourself and not taking yourself too seriously, which I think we need. We need that all the time, but we need that especially right now,” Fleming continued.
Fleming sure has a great way to spread the positivity within her Canadian community. Like she said, I think we could all use a little lighting up right now.
Below is a picture of Fleming demonstrating a silly walk that one might do while in the jurisdiction. How fun!
