What a beautiful piece of writing. I love your quiet contemplations on life, they feel like a deep conversation. As a tour host on international tours I always walk at the back of my group - through cities and on trails, it lets me keep an eye on guests while the guide is focused on leading the way and pointing out highlights. But it also means I get to learn the traits of tour guests, who will stop to shop, who will stop to take photos, who will race to be at the front, who will want to hang back. It’s also lovely to watch the reactions from the group, everyone has a different reaction to a place and seeing those responses brings a unique perspective to every walk.