Walk was worth the effort

HAD to make an effort to go out this evening. I’d been in college earlier, sorting paperwork and meeting this year’s student intake – who, I might add, were lovely. We visited a photographic exhibition, where the group were asked to write down their views; what they liked, disliked, what their reasons were, etc. We walked from the college to the venue and back (about four tomatoes' worth of energy!), so had the opportunity to chat on the way. 

       Tree support off the beaten path.

Time will tell, but if the young people continue in class like they did today – during induction week – they’ll be great!

Once home, there was more preparation and other admin to be cleared. I was slumped comfortably in front of the telly on my ‘break’ and just couldn’t rustle up enthusiasm for striding around the neighbourhood; there was ‘stuff to do,’ I couldn’t afford the time, I was tired, I was enjoying the TV, I hadn’t had my tea  – in other words, all the usual excuses!

Trouble is, the walking is becoming a habit (I’m glad to say), and habits are difficult to break. I began to feel that, well, perhaps I should go out for a few minutes.

I asked myself: ‘If I leave off tonight, what about tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after?’ It would be quite easy to take the comfortable option and not to do anything. And before you could say, ’I’ll just tie my boot laces up!’ I’ll have dropped out of my own project. 

Then I started to think it would be better going for even
just a short walk than simply remaining where I was
in my inactive state.

Picturing the enjoyment

Nettles picked out by the sun.

And, finally, I began to picture what I enjoy about walking: the rhythm that builds, where your body seems to transform into some fantastical organic machine and you can hear your steady, determined breathing; feel the measured pace of your feet as they tread the ground; see the trees and hedgerows, footpaths, roads, flowers, butterflies and anything else that comes into and passes from your view as you stride purposefully on.  You become aware of muscles and joints all working together in harmony (ok, and the odd ache or two!). Your body takes over.

In the end, I couldn’t resist. Weighing up what else I had to do, I gave myself 40 minutes. It was a beautiful warm evening and I took a bit of a wiggly circular route mixing woodland pathway, pavements and grassy banks, and including streets with some gentle but fairly steep slopes.

I returned to ‘base’ after 37 minutes. I hadn’t missed a great deal of telly, I had my tea, and there was still time to catch up on outstanding work. 

Sometimes, the hardest step is the first one!