I was looking back on the last time I posted a blog. It’s been a while, cause I’ve been busy…walking. Not as busy as Forest Gump, but pretty busy.  I committed about a month ago to walk 10,000 steps a day. You know, steps. Isn’t that what everyone calls a walk these days? We hear, “I’ve got to get my steps in.” and “How many steps did you take today?” and “Wow, I got in a ton of steps on my vacation.”  Steps is a old word with a new use.

Kind of like the pound sign is now a hashtag and thongs are now underwear.(I know that just freaked out the millennials) Steps are the new measure of distance we walk. We don’t say as much anymore, “I walked  around the block.” we say “I put on 1500 steps.” Steps…it’s just what we say.

Ten thousand steps was first popularized by Japanese pedometers in the 1960s under the name “manpo-kei,” which means “10,000 steps meter.” Today, taking 10,000 steps a day is a popular goal because some research has shown coupled with other healthy behaviors it can lead to a decrease in chronic illness like diabetes, metabolic syndromes and heart disease.

Well, I’ve been working on my steps, 10, 00 a day.  I haven’t missed a day since I committed to it.  10,000 steps is harder than it sounds. Not to actually accomplish, but to work into a lifestyle. And that’s why we have trouble doing it consistently. I’ve been curious about just how awkward or different the change feels. It’s been good for me to experience this change in my life to remember just how change feels.

It doesn’t feel normal. And although it’s obvious that walking 10,000 steps a day is good for you, that doesn’t mean it feels good either. Because normal feels good. And even when we aren’t taking the best care of ourselves and we know it, normal feels better than change. I’ve spent the majority of my life inspiring change in people so this change for me has been an experiment that I won’t let go of without using it as an example.  I’m not saying I’m ready to share the results of my experiment yet…I’m just saying that I’m well aware of the feelings that go along with doing something different, doing it consistently and still knowing that I could stop tomorrow and go back to the way things were.

Here are some reason I won’t do that:

  1. I committed to another person. ( My sister Nancy is walking 10,000 steps too and we are texting a screen shot of our days totals at the end of each day. I won’t let her down)
  2. I am already feeling the emotional affects of walking 10,000 or more steps a day and I don’t want to give that up.
  3. I’m turning 60 next year and planning a big hiking/camping trip with friends and family in the southwest with a tour guide that I have to get ready for.
  4. If not now, when?
  5. I just told all of you.

Some things I’m doing to make my 10,000 steps more fun:

  1. I’m listening to some great music. (When I have the right worship music playing I don’t want to stop walking)
  2. I’m listening to powerful podcasts. (I walked until it’s over)
  3. I’m walking with friends. If they want to meet for coffee, I suggest walking instead.
  4. I’m walking different and beautiful routes.
  5. I bought some new gear to be comfortable rain or shine.

Some things I’m letting go of because of my walking:

  1. Time on social media
  2. There are dishes in the sink right now.
  3. Dressing up for the day. (I mostly wear yoga pants and tennis shoes)
  4. TV…unless I’m getting my last steps in with an episode of HGTV.
  5. Excuses.

So…I’m hoping to write you all months down the road and tell you about the benefits and the experience I had changing,  and that I’m still at it, feeling stronger and more excited about my birthday hike than ever.

I only have 6000 steps in for today, so I need to close out and get a move on. Any of you who want to join me for a walk, I’m available…everyday. Every single day.

 

Love and Steps, Letha