This is one thing I just do not understand about my psychology: Even though I love taking walks, even though I derive joy, inspiration, and refreshment from being outside, even though I feel mentally and physically better when I move my body surrounded by nature, I still often have to talk myself into going for a walk. Maybe it’s not a psychology issue, but one of physics? Either way, it is super annoying that I know all these things and still, still I sometimes have to prod and cajole and force myself outside for even ten minutes.
That is all to say that I am very grateful to Elisabeth for spearheading another month of walking through the CBWC. Somehow, knowing that I am accountable to Elisabeth (I am 100% not accountable to Elisabeth, this is all in my head) helps me win the battle against inertia more often than not.
October 29:
I got my butt outside after lunch for a 30 minute / 1.8 mile (2.9 km) stroll. The sun was out, the sky was blue. I was wearing a tank top with my leggings. I passed several other walkers… all wearing winter coats, some with winter hats, one with a hat and gloves on. My body exists in a separate climate from others, apparently.
October 30:
Today, I had a meeting with one of Carla’s teachers and then I did a strength training workout. I tried to muster some energy to get outside and failed. Some of the amazing women reading this right now manage to get a walk and a workout in every day. Every. Day. And often those same women have full-time jobs and multiple children. HOW, is my question. After school, Carla and I went to her pediatrician’s office and got our flu shots; I also got a Covid shot (Carla will get hers on a different day). I was delighted by one of the trees in the parking lot and horrified Carla by photographing it. I am so embarrassing.
October 31:
Well, thanks to my double shot yesterday, I slept terribly (my arm was throbbing) and I woke up feeling dreadful. Stupid effective Covid shot. Fortunately, I had a walk-and-talk on tap which got me outside. My 2.5-mile (4 km) walk felt like intense work, but chatting with a friend made it much more pleasant.
November 1:
Okay, yes, technically the CBWC challenge ended yesterday, but I did miss a few walks during the month, so I’m going to try to make them up. We had a busy day today of chauffeuring Carla to and from bat mitzvah events, but I managed to squeeze in a 1.7 mile (2.7 km) walk in the late afternoon.
November 2:
Today was a busy day chauffeuring Carla to and from various sporting events. I had been hoping to do a walk-and-talk, but my friend wasn’t available. Nonetheless, I urged myself to go outside anyway and got in a quick 1.5 mile (2.4 km) power walk.
November 3:
You will perhaps remember my plan to keep my wake up schedule despite the time change, so I could have time to workout before taking Carla to school. Well. I have been easing into this plan by waking up at the correct time (4:21) and then not exercising. But I did meet up with my writing partner for a 3.7 mile (5.9 km) walk. Our typical walking trail is so gorgeous right now. It seems like the landscape changes daily. We each stopped multiple times to try to capture the autumnal beauty with our phones.
November 4:
Today I got set up with my CPAP machine, which required extra driving. And then Carla had a school event forty minutes from our house. So I was in the car for around four hours. I did make sure to get outside for a quick 1.4 mile (2.3 km) walk. So many trees are completely bare right now, but others are just transforming into fall colors. There are leaves everywhere.
A Month of Movement
I did skip a few days, and that irritates me. But when I look at the month(ish) as a whole, I’m okay with where I ended up. There are four days where I didn’t exercise at all. (October 12 and 13 also have no green exercise dot, but I was in Boston/returning home from Boston on those days and I did plenty of walking – 16,000 steps Sunday and 10,000 Monday – so I am not counting them as no-exercise days.)
Today I have a little extra time, so as I hit post I am going to head down to the gym. I will also try to walk today, although it’s another day of lots of ferrying Carla around. I anticipate at least three hours in the car, which means there’s less time to walk while also making walking more of a necessity.
Thank you to Elisabeth for hosting this month’s movement. And thank you to you for enduring my recaps!
Always happy to walk and talk with you! Let’s do it again this month 🙂
Yay! Let’s do that!
THREE HOURS IN THE CAR
I am impressed, both with your walking and with the leaves. I 100% would have photographed it because I am embarrassing as well. I spent a solid five minutes soliliquing (is that a word? Monologuing might be better) about how I saw the full moon fall as I did my yoga practice and as it fell it went through clouds and it was so incredible and I looked at Rob and Jake and they looked like Shrek and Donkey after the “Duloc is a happy place” thing.
LOL – that is a very evocative image. But also, why are our children and husbands IMMUNE to the BEAUTY?!?!?!
I have lost track of the number of times my kids tell me “that’s so embarrassing, Mom.”
They also call my Momtographer. There’s so much beauty. DOES NO ONE ELSE SEE THIS?? Just me??? Kids these days *shakes head*
Right?!?! Well, I can only hope that when our kids are middle aged they will realize we were right!
Congrats on your walking. I can’t believe you would do something so mortifying as taking a picture of something beautiful.
For me, it’s yoga. I know I should do it- I know I’ll feel better afterwards AND I know I’ll enjoy it once I get started! So why can’t I get myself to do yoga every day? It’s a mystery.
But! You did get out on a lot of walks, almost every day in October. I hope your Covid shot protects you from this strain- I think I had Covid over the summer and it’s what gave me pink eye WHICH WAS NOT FUN.
Your walks are a lot longer than most of mine, so if you are referring to me, don’t be THAT impressed!!!! I just sneak it in during lunch on clinical work days and it REALLY helps my mindset for that afternoon session. I’m so happy to be past the point of the season when it’s blazing hot and i have to be on high alert for thunder!
I’ve had to talk myself into walking too. During lockdown, I used to walk every day-three miles or more. I have absolutely no motivation now.
I love your walk recaps, the tree photos, and your thoughts along the way. Please keep sharing them. 💜
I was having this same conversation with my chiropractor yesterday. I KNOW it is all-around a good idea, so why don’t I DO IT? Humans, we’re so dumb sometimes.
I’m also in the fall trees photographers’ club! 🙂
I love all of your beautiful photos, and it was well worth embarrasing your daughter to take them! Ha! Ha! I hope you will love your CPAP machine. I’m struggling with mine at the moment. Sigh.
The only way I get my walks in is to get up and do it right after my cup of coffee; but then again, I don’t have a child that needs ferrying. I may need to revisit it this practice (and talk myself into it more) after winter well and truly sets in.
I remember being the SO EMBARRASING MOM for just existing. LOL.
I also marvel at how those around us are seemingly oblivious to the the very obvious beauty that surrounds us.
Concur on the people who walk and strength train and work full time and/or have kids. And I’m the same with walking as with salads – love them, they make me feel great, it is SO HARD to make myself make them.
I love my CPAP but it took a long long time to be able to save that. Also I still don’t really understand them giving you a CPAP when I thought your problem was more insomnia-based, but I hope it helps!
Four hours in the car with no great destination at the end is too many hours.
Wow, look at this foliage and the blue skies. Gorgeous. One never regrets getting out for a walk, even if we have to convince ourselves sometimes to take that first step out the door.
Who are the people walking and doing a workout every day? I would say those people are the exception and NOT the norm! It is great that someone is able to do that but I would not place that expectation on yourself!! You are busy! You are not sleeping well! What would you tell me if I came to you and expressed that same disappointment in myself? I know what you would say. 🙂 You fit a lot in this month.
It is so hard to cut ourselves some slack, isn’t it? I had a good month and only missed 1 day of walks but boy am I annoyed about missing that one day. Most days a walk was my only form of exercise. And I did not work for a good 2 weeks of the month and when I did work, it was from home. So I had the gentlest schedule. I’ve been back in the office the last 3 days and did not manage a walk either day, unless you count my walk to target and the post office yesterday when I ran errands midday. We are all cramming so much into every day! Something has to give. And the evening hours of darkness are not helping me!!
Yay, lots of walks! The whole time management thing to get in daily walks is….a work in progress. Recently I’ve succeeded in doing two to three short walks, like 15 min, a day with the dog. My step count has increased and short walks seem doable.
What beautiful photos! I’m very attracted to clouds. You may say that you have trouble getting started, but you’ve accomplished a lot. I’ve hit a lull due to some family obligations.
Your walks look beautiful! I wanted to participate in this challenge, but then kind of missed the start and lost moment. Maybe in April!
I can’t even track my walking/non walking days, so you’re winning if you want to compare.
How dare you take photos of trees in front of children; that is embarrassing!
I’m excited to learn if the CPAP helps your sleep issues!