Trails Less Traveled

Late last winter I huffed and puffed my overweight self up a semi steep hill near my home - and then vowed that I would walk every day - rain or shine - and pretty soon in snow - for an entire year. My thinking was that this would set me up with a habit that would endure - good for my health and good for my spirit!

It is now many months ...and many less pounds to carry....later and I can honestly say that I have not missed a day - yes, some days the walks have been shorter - especially in the past month when I have been in the midst of selling one house and packing up to move to another house - and then redoing major portions of rooms in the new house. But I did walk every day. Today, however, I got a chance to resume my longer walks on a long winding, hilly road near my new home. It felt fantastic to resume the longer walks, and so much fun to have the chance to explore on foot one of the roads near here. I see so much more on foot than when driving! Passed some friendly and a few not-so-friendly dogs, was greeted by people out in their yards taking advantage of this wonderful weather to finish up some yard work and hang some Christmas lights, and discovered a beautiful stretch of woods further along the road, complete with the pleasing scnet of pines.

There is something about walking that sets me free, whether it be a walk along a country road or a walk up one of the Adirondack High Peaks. Walking is so natural, so easy and a task most people can engage in on a daily basis. I sometimes find my mind wandering to those in the past who walked in order to get anyplace. Want to go to town for staples? Start walking. Want to go to school? Get walking. Want to go to the Oregon Territory? Walk and then walk some more. I wonder if we are forgetting the pleasure in using our own muscles to get from point A to point B. It is so easy to hop in the car to run to get some forgotten grocery - a much different matter if one had to walk to that same store and back!

I walk, not to always arrive at an intended destination, but mostly because I can. I walk to see what the changing seasons are unfolding - sometimes changes so minute only an observant walker would catch the changes between yesterday and today. I feel better after some time breathing fresh air and allowing my muscles to be useful. I walk becaue I am a walker!