I Did What?!

My daughter is graduating from college with a BA in Psychology on May 19 of this year.  Rather than walking at her commencement, she's chosen to run a 5K in support of Suicide Prevention.  She inspires me on so many levels without even realizing it.

That being said, she innocently said, "you should sign up to walk it, Mom."

I innocently said, "I think that would be fun."

So I innocently went online and registered for the 5K Run/Walk.

As I hit the "Submit Entry" button, it hit me what I had just done.

I had just committed, both physically and monetarily, to walk 3.1 miles!

3.1 miles.

In public, with other people, lots of other people, without stopping.

And wearing a number "bib".

Oh.  My.  God.

Should I use my poles??

I should use my poles.

I'll use my poles.

I better start walking every day between now and then, that's for damn sure.

Pray for me.

Purpose Over Fear

I'm going for a walk in a few minutes, even though my mental chatter has been saying "no".

So I asked myself why, why "no" when it feels good. Why?

And it came back...the fear.
The fear that someone might see me.
The fear that someone might make fun of me.
The fear that it's not going to make me slimmer.
The fear that it's a waste of time.
The fear that it doesn't matter.

But I'm going anyway.

I need self-respect.

Purpose over fear.

Clementine Wins Over Chips Ahoy!

Finally got to walk again today; yesterday was a day filled with rain, and lots of it!

I have to say that I could feel the determination beginning to wane somewhat today, maybe because it's another gray day, maybe because I haven't walked consistently.  Either way, I got out there before I could totally lose my "oomph".

There is progress, though.  While I wasn't jumping up and down to walk today, the positive mind chatter was much louder and more persistent than the negative mind chatter, and THAT is success.

I'm feeling blue today because it's the 14th anniversary of losing Dad.  I still miss him.  Too many emotions to accurately put into words, so I won't try.

I started to go for my standard "drug of choice", Chips Ahoy cookies, but instead, I peeled and ate a clementine. Hence, "Clementine Wins Over Chips Ahoy".

Every single small success adds up.

I sit in my cottage for a little bit after my walks, mostly to just have some quiet time.  

I'm starting to feel a little bit proud of myself for not quitting, 

but I also know that that's a precarious thought. 

So again, I thank You, God, for keeping me going. 

A Breakthrough

I had a personal breakthrough today.  It's an unfamiliar feeling, but a positive one.

I went to Kohl's and tried on a shit-ton of outfits, all of them plus sizes.  My regular size plus size pant went up a size, which disgusts me.  But I needed them, so I bought them...three pair of capris and two tops. 

On the drive home, I got so angry and tearful, then successfully talked myself OUT of walking today with my typical negative mind chatter:

Why bother.

It will never make a difference.

I went up a size so it doesn't matter.

It's a waste of my time.

I can't do it.

But something odd happened - a feeling came over me as I was turning onto Piper Road from Piper Cross, a feeling of inner warmth.  And I said "of course I'm going to walk".  

And I did. 

I did it.

I. Did. It.

Thank You, God.

Sunday Morning Walking

I'm almost afraid to say it, but it's getting easier to walk without the negative mind chatter getting in the way...I almost can't believe it.

I had the luxury of being up alone this morning for quite awhile; I read, downloaded another book onto my Kindle app for MCAS later this week, had coffee, did my face and hair, and had breakfast.

I knew there was a lot I wanted/needed to do today, and walking was on my list.  I decided that before I could go out into my cottage to play, I'd have to do my "work", which is how I stay focused sometimes.

So...off I went.  Today I walked steadily, no speeding up, as my right knee is complaining and I want to keep it safe.  I've never had knee issues and don't want them now.

I took a little shorter route to be on the safe side.  

I loved listening to the sounds of spring while I was walking.  I also loved hearing my own footsteps...steady, moving forward. 

This is yours truly...

...trying to be invisible.  

Please note the bright pink jacket and neon green 

sunglasses...not so invisible.  

It Felt Good Today

No negative mind chatter today, what a switch.  I was actually looking forward to pole walking around the block today.

My work walk was a quiet meander, no music other than the music of Spring.  The weather was perfect!  It was/is breezy, low 50s and sunny; it couldn't get any better.

Cate called me on her way home and asked about going with me, so it was even easier to get out there.  I was almost impatient to walk while waiting for her to get home.  :-)

She showed me how to use the walking app that Colleen put on my phone last night, and, according to it...

...I did a 19 minute-mile.  

I think I'll set a personal goal that in a week's time, I'll be doing a 15-minute mile. That's realistic, right?

Today in school, I saw this message on a student's "time capsule" box...

It's almost the exact opposite of my message to myself.  I knew I needed to document the irony of this message compared to my own.  

She needs to walk in order to overcome anger and fear, I need to overcome fear (and anger) in order to keep walking, 

And I think I am doing that.

If actually felt good today, a foreign and freeing feeling.

Thank You God.

Walking With Colleen

Not as much negative mind chatter today re the walking after work.  Maybe because I did it yesterday, maybe because the air is still cool and rainy.

I semi-power walked during my break, enough to get me breathing heavily.  No sweating, though; a bonus as I despise sweating.

I planned to walk around the block again today after work, maybe even with my eyes looking up for longer periods of time.

Colleen texted me during the day to see if I wanted to go for a walk with her...I only hesitated for a split second (automatic reaction, no matter what or who), then we figured out the logistics.

I didn't allow myself to get too comfortable once I got home-left my work clothes on, jewelry and all.  Made an early supper (beef stew), ate at the dining room table so as not to get comfy in my recliner.  

I would have used my poles except it's raining and I needed the umbrella.  Let's be real...I haven't graduated to walking in the rain without an umbrella yet.  #donttouchthehair

Look at us, walkin' in the rain!  Colleen wore Bob's Tilly Hat and she's still adorable.

We power-walked about a mile, a mile and a half; we chatted, chuckled, snap-chatted.  We got our heart rates and our breathing going good.  

Took about 30 minutes to walk that far, but that's damn ok.  

Colleen and Cate offhandedly mentioned a 5k around Ashley Reservoir. 

A 5k?  Huh. I wonder....

Day 4 - Fifteen Minutes

Last night and all of today, I was coming up with reasons NOT to walk this afternoon.  

I'm good at that, very very good. 

It was cold again.

I was tired.

My feet hurt.

My back hurt.

We would be going to Walmart.

I was very tired.

It wouldn't matter.

I walked during my break.

I walked a tiny bit farther on my break.

I would look funny.

Someone would judge me.

We went to Walmart and I was sad while there, not sure why.  I was sad and annoyed.

On the drive home, I decided that I'd be walking when we got home so that maybe the sadness and annoyance would go away.

I put on my silly rubber boots, tucked in my dress pants, went to my cottage and got my poles, and spent 15 minutes walking throughout the yard.

Even less snow today.  I was able to walk in some areas for the first time.  The cold air felt clean and good.  I did some heart-center breathing to fill myself up with clean, cold air.

But all I could think about was stopping.

The mental mind chatter wanted me to hurry up and stop, 

so I decided that 15 minutes was the minimum today.

I had to fight the mental mind chatter almost every step of the way.

 I won.  Today I won.

I reasoned with that mental mind chatter by saying "Ok, I'll only walk until my body tells me to stop.  I'll pay close attention to my hip, my knees, my arms."  I think that's fair and I think that's smart.

We brought this tree home as a sapling only a few years ago and it has grown beautifully.

Yours truly, heading in.  

Thank You God.

Day 3...Ok But Not

Didn't walk today with the poles.  The wind chill is quite freezing, so much so that the wind hurts my face.

But I did power-walk during my break, rather than meander.  I got to the point that I shaved 4 minutes off of my  usual walking time, and had anyone been walking with me, I would have been hard-pressed to have a conversation with them because I was breathing heavily.

And that's ok.

It was a mental struggle all day, too, so I'm not 100% sure that it was the wind and cold that stopped me, but I think it is.  My negative mental chatter told me not to bother.

Most of the time, my negative mental chatter stops me in my tracks, literally and figuratively.

I still pray daily for moving forward on my walking journey.

Day Two...I Did It!

I did it!

I walked with my poles again instead of making excuses, or finding a way out, or complaining.

This morning I even found myself thinking "I can't wait to walk again", which was an unusual thought for me.  I didn't believe myself, but then the feeling lasted all day, and I felt safe with it.

And that's a good thing.

Today I really felt it in my arms and in my breathing which is one of the benefits of using the Nordic Walking Poles.  It's a cardio workout by simply swinging my arms; not hard at all.

I only walked about 15 minutes.

No. Wait. I ACTUALLY walked fifteen minutes.

The cool breeze felt wonderful, the sun was warm, the birds were singing.  Sounds cliche, but it truly was peaceful.

Less snow today.

My son's idea of a lawn "ornament".  

Look at me...I walked through the snow!

Beautiful blue sky upwards through the dwarf pear tree branches.

Maple sapling, with a special heart!

Heading back toward the house.

It all comes down to this...I did it.  I didn't quit, at least not today, and it felt good.

Thank You, God.