Well today has started so beautifully. The water in the river is clear as crystal, there are ski paddlers, stand up board paddlers, canoe paddlers, dog paddlers no not really but there sure are dogs – everyone has a dog except me. Some have 2 dogs and there are doggie doo bags on the post like vege bags at the grocery store. It is an epidemic! I think it is because we grew up with dogs as kids as then my boys grew up with dogs so we didn’t find them quite so….darling? Minefield here.
Anyhow, my youngest adores dogs and my heart cries for him as all he wants is some land and a dog and I can’t give it to him. He wants a white Labrador and it will be the first thing he buys after his Jeep and then he will buy his land. Then he says he will walk it every day because the chicks love it – where did that sleaze come from??
So with walking there is such a lot of fun analysing people – I know they look at me and go wow she’s been in a good paddock, wow she has let herself go, wow go granny, or perhaps good for you having a go. But that’s irrelevant as it is a fantastic way to start the day and hopefully I will shrink. I used to walk every single day for many years before children – rain, hail or shine and this inertia is really taunting me so I am trying again, this time baby steps until I feel like I once did again – physically alive, active, enthusiastic, and back on top of my game.
Anyhow, walking etiquette, do you smile, nod, say good morning? I smile and if they are older than me I say Good Morning – the reason is they will return the greeting. You can tell a person’s personality, I think, by the way they greet you walking and everyone makes judgments so don’t pretend you don’t – good or bad – it’s human nature – you just don’t have to express them.
There are the no smile and just a nod girls, these are the serious athletes who despise the ones with the broad smiles and the teethy good mornings, there are the men who while they started out doing this for fitness realise it’s a hell of a perve. Then there are the overweight ones, who are just battling to keep going but are so excited to be joining the over achievers in the world who get up early, get stuff done, change their mental attitude and get the day rolling in a positive way.
A friend put me on to Miracle Morning which is a FaceBook community encouraging each other in all aspects of life. It’s about beating the world out of bed and getting your mind, body and soul ready for the day and acknowledging how much difference it can make in your life. I love it as I was always an early riser from the time I was young and I did feel like I always was on the top of my game.
But I stopped when I had my children as I didn’t have the energy, the time, the clothes, the enthusiasm, the opportunity like lots of women. And then it’s a vicious circle, you gain weight, you get lazy, you get self conscious, you know you should be out there, you know it will make you feel better, but you look fat and you’ll look stupid, and you know life will be so much easier but it’s all too hard. But, then when you do have a go, you think oh my goodness, this is what I have been missing out on.
I think adding this to our life is a must do. If there is one small thing we can add to our day to make it and our life better it is this, getting up earlier and doing something free. Everyone benefits as you are happier, more in control, you become more interesting to others, you add another , your skin and lungs thank you even if your legs don’t initially, and you gain immense confidence. I hope to see you by my Maroochy River walking soon with the many thousands that already enjoy it. Xxx Mwah
