I set some goals for myself this summer. I shared them here, but I've revised them. My goals are simple for this summer:
1. Walk
2. Write
3. Clean
4. Read
5. Swim
The first goal is the one I'd like to talk about. I have a confession...I'm a relatively sedentary person. The things I love to do include sitting: writing and reading. It's not good. During this past school year, a friend nudged me to accompany her after school on walks. I did and look where I am now. School has been out since June 15th. Of the sixteen weekdays, I've walked fourteen of them: missed one for rain and one for not feeling well.
My day starts with the walk. Sometimes I walk with a friend and other days I walk alone...in silence or accompanied by some of my favorite tunes...in the cool mornings or in the extreme heat. Regardless, I lace up my sneakers and I walk.
How has this changed me? I feel better. I have energy. My day begins with something already accomplished. Feeling more motivated, I get more done and I am happier.
Walking has helped me as a writer too. I work out ideas as I walk. This morning, I wrote my typewriter poem, in my head, on my walk. (I jotted it down in my note app, so I could type it later.)
Walking calms me and gives me confidence. This helps when I sit down to write. As writers, we often doubt ourselves. I often have the, "I'm not good enough!" imposter syndrome worry. Walking calms that in me. I don't know why. I don't understand it. (I don't even care why!)
Walking has motivated me to clean and purge and organize. I'm almost done with my house and the garage is next. Taking a walk can be overwhelming to a sedentary person like me. It's all about one step at a time...hmmm, just like writing. One word after another.
One step, one word, one shelf, one page, one stroke - I love how walking sets the tone for your day. I need to purge and organize. Maybe walking early is the key. Happy steps, Michelle!
ReplyDeleteCheers to you for keeping up the new habit! I love walking.
ReplyDeleteYippee! When I lived in Berlin I walked so much and the last four years in Kuala Lumpur I really missed it- a combination of the city not being very walkable because of infrastructure issues and heat. When looking for new places walkability was on my list, but obviously not high enough. Maybe if I had a walking buddy!
ReplyDeleteI love everything about this post! We enjoy so many of the same things and I even have the same worries that you share from time to time. I'm glad you are enjoying your walks! Keep it up! Oh, and I'm a bit bummed that your 100 days is coming to a close. Hats off to you!
ReplyDeleteOne step,
ReplyDeletetwo steps,
three steps
four.
Creating habits
keep us
asking for more!
Congrats on your new habit!
Good for you, Michelle! Walking always gets my thoughts flowing. I couldn't even begin to tell you how many poems began with something I noticed while out walking.
ReplyDeleteYay for happy, healthy, productive summers! I love walking/running in part because of the accomplishment/health aspects, but even more because I also find that it helps me as a writer. I have new experiences, find ideas and/or develop them along the way. It's almost like entering a different mental state.
ReplyDeleteI missed commenting last week while I was away. I'd walk with you! I need to move, too. :-(
ReplyDelete