Dairy crates; a split pomegranate; the first day that really felt like fall; an abandoned coat; olives; the most welcoming porch in the neighborhood; what everyone else in the house watches on Sundays.
This month is going to test my resolve. Mikey is home with strep throat and Nico is fighting a cold. I will have to abandon my evening walks for the time being. During the weeks everyone is healthy and it’s not my morning carpool, I can walk in the morning. The other weeks I’ll have to walk after my volunteer hours at the library but before I go back to pick the boys up from school. This should work until the Mister is back in town.
Six month ago, the erratic schedule would be cause to give up. (Please, I never exercised, so better stated it would be cause to never start!) But now making adjustments seems second nature, just like the exercise experts promised. You don’t brush your teeth at the same time every morning, but barring extreme circumstances, you do brush them at some point. That’s how I view my walking. I don’t do it at the same time every day, but I’m doing it at some point.
Great post! I think finding time to exercise is something we have to teach ourselves over time. It certainly isn’t easy as a teacher whose schedule changes drastically every few months. ;-)
Hope the boys feel better! I cancelled classes for the first time in 5 years of teaching because I was sick last week – must mean fall is here!
Jules,
Love that! … what a great mindset that barring unexpected extreme circumstances you will exercise at some time during the day. Exercise does beget exercise, as it becomes a part of your day it just doesn’t feel right to go without. I just relearned this myself in a 2 week online exercise / eating right bootcamp, and all the participants agreed that we felt better with the daily exercise, didn’t feel right about days when we considered not exercising, and definitely hope to continue our new habits on our own. Walk on! Robin
It has been so inspiring to watch this change in you – exercise becoming like brushing your teeth. I like thinking of it that way and working toward that as a real goal. Thank you. And hope everyone feels better soon!
I was expecting to see olives on the ground but instead, it’s an olive TREE. While in Tangiers, Morocco, and marveling at the colorful display of olives in the souk, I was informed that the varying colors tell the degree of ripeness.For me, Morocco is magical. I have increased my walking, not everyday, but more often. But no olive trees here in Atlanta!
Never thought of it like brushing your teeth, but you’re right!
It’s amazing how you can prioritize things you once dreaded. I find it so easy to begrudge physical activity, but I’m always happier having gotten out there. I’m reading a great bicycling book by the founder of Rivendell Bicycle Works, and a point that stuck out was to count the smallest thing: if you can’t do a full 2-mile walk, can you walk around the block? To the end of the block and back? Then you walked today, and it counts. Make up for it with an extra lap or 1/2 mile when you have more time and reserves. :)
Love that the walking has become second nature to your daily routine! Great news! Carry on soldier!