When I turned 35 about 8 months ago, I decided I wasn't going to feel old. I was going to look at 35 as an opportunity. I admire older women. They seem to have it all together, so much more so than a 25 year old. I think it is so nice to be 35 and have had some life experience. It makes all the petty things seem not so bad. Everyday life got easier with this outlook.
So I decided that 35 was going to be the start of something new. I have a friend who turned 35 the same week I did, and we decided to do something together. We started walking every weekday morning. I get up at 4:30 am, throw on some sweats, meet her at her house, and we walk for an hour. No one thought it would last. Everyone said we were crazy. And we probably are. However, this morning made eight months of walking. The only time we have taken off is when we were on our family vacations.
A couple of months ago, I decided that wasn't enough. So I added another workout to my day. I either walk an additional four miles, or I do aerobics, pilates, yoga, or something for an hour.
My energy level is through the roof. I am enjoying all sorts of things that had become routine. My family is eating much more exciting foods because, let's face it, I am awake a long time before dinner and I find cooking is a great creative outlet. And I can get the kids involved.
So many people tell me how impressed they are that I have kept up the walking. They tell me they wish they could do it, too. To quote Nike, "Just Do It!"
So now that I have my active lifestyle really underway, I am ready to take on a new challenge. I am ready to focus on my sewing. I discovered this in my morning papers this morning. I am ready for a new challenge. I am feeling complacent, and I don't like that feeling. So today I will design something. Yes, I will! And I will execute it this week.
4 comments:
Good for You! I believe that sometime soon in TAW, you are asked to walk 20 minutes each day. This will be a slam dunk for you!
Learning new things in the morning pages too? great!
Early morning walks sound so nice. (but I must admit 4:30 is too early for me. I would be walking into trees)I recently started a yoga class and have done pilates on my own. I skate three times a week. If I miss a session, I feel off the whole rest of the day. I'm looking forward to this studying the Artist's Way with you.
It's so wonderful that you are doing this wonderful thing (called 'exercise') for yourself! I started out almost the same way as you over 3 years ago. Now, if I try and cheat on a day and don't do it...it feels too weird so I usually end up doing it anyways. ;o)
I walked to and from the office all summer and it did me so much good--I felt better, dropped a size and lost weight without even trying. A couple weeks ago, I got a parking space in the parking ramp under the building--it's great now that the weather is turning cold and ugly, but I have to find a way to build exercise back into my life. You (and Tracey) inspire me.
Post a Comment