The Morning Walk 12/16/15
It wasn’t really hard to get out of bed today. I think the fact that I’ve made my walk an adventure and not a chore is the real excitement. So, I decided to vary my route and time slightly each day. I may leave a few minutes later or earlier and take a different street combination as well. And I began to walk….
I noticed something right away as my stride kicked in walking down the main street by my house. It is very uncomfortable to pass people on the sidewalk or to be passed. Everything was going fine until this teenage couple started to kanoodle in front of me. I was about 50ft away when I realized their erratic behavior caused them to bob from side to side making my pass impossible. Okay, impossible is pushing it, but have you ever noticed how hard it can be when the moment of passing comes. When the person is coming in the opposite direction you try not to make eye contact. If you do make eye contact do you nod, say hi, or turn away? All the choices leave you kind of uncomfortable. Unless you’re a happy friendly person like myself who actually does it all. Not in a weird way like I make eye contact, nod, and then say good morning like I’m about to abduct you, but more like “good morning and good day to you sir and or madam.”
As I was just about to pass these star crossed lovers when a jogger swished by and anger swelled up inside me. How dare this hot fit guy make me look bad for walking! I wanted to run right up to him and say something rude. Something like “Hey hot guy, stop being so hot and fit you’re making us still very hot guys, but not as fit look really bad.” That is how most of the conversations go inside my head; anger usually turns to internally lazy sarcasm. However, seeing another person exercise makes you feel better about trying to be healthier. Soon I hope I’m able to run the routes I walk without dying of cardiac arrest.
Only a fourth of the way in today’s walk, I started to get a clearer head and the task at hand seemed a bit closer to achieving. I think it starts with realizing that a healthy lifestyle is one part physical and two parts mental. I doubt most people associate changing the body with how far you can mold the mind as well. I had this grand thought, at least in my eyes, to start walking, observing, and writing about it. I want to use it as a catalyst for changing my body and mind in a way that can stick with me for the rest of my life.
Then I crossed the street to start the loop home noticing a sort of tunnel illusion made from the trees that lined sidewalk in the distance. I looked far down the path as I walked into what seemed like a new phase in my own evolution. I was making my way downtown, walking fast, faces pass, and I’m home bound. A very popular song comes to mind….Thanks Vanessa you definitely had the right idea.
Can I just say that dads are making a comeback in the nurturing department. I see so many dads and granddads dropping off kids and walking their little goobers around the neighborhoods. Sorry moms, we know you do 99% of the hard work, but dads 1% seems to stand out just as much. Today, thank you dad….and mom just for being dad and mom, it will actually make their day.
I passed by a car with a license plate that read MyGang3 and wondered what could have happened to gangs 1 and 2. I knew then that the street life was never a good idea. RIP MG1 and MG2.
I was just about to pass the intersection with the Ralph’s when the hot jogger passed me again! Okay, I was only half of the half of the way back when he passed me. This time there was no rage and no resentment. I actually cheered him on. I was cheering on this complete stranger and to make matter worse I’d only seen the back of his head as he zoomed by me both times. It just goes to show you that even when you’re down and lapped by the competition, it really only matters that you finish for yourself. I finally see that there is no real harm in cheering on the other guy because in his eyes he considers himself the underdog too. Today you should embrace the uncomfortable pass.
I hope that my morning helped you start yours. Tomorrow is just a story away.
Morning Count: 7131 steps, 3.83 miles, 775 calories
