Tag Archives: walking

view of a small lake with green grass in front and blue sky with white clouds

Have You Ever Gotten Lost?

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I love to take super long walks on Sunday afternoons. Yesterday it was so hot, but I love walking in hot, humid weather. For some reason, I feel like I’m getting a real workout when I’m so wet with sweat that it looks as though I’ve taken a dip in the lake. The thermometer said 89 degrees with a soaring dew point. That’s MY idea of “sweat-er” weather. 😊

I also love to walk/hike new trails. There are a bunch of local parks around my town with miles of trails that meander through the Iowa countryside. You would never know you’re in a city because you can only see prairie, deep woods, streams, and blue sky. I decided to try out a “new to me” park with a variety of trails, from paved to gravel to mowed-through-the-prairie paths.

A bark-cover wide path through tall trees with sunshine at the end

I arrived mid-afternoon with my water bottle, planning for at least a 3-mile walk. I always stop to take pictures of wildflowers or whatever else jumps out at me, so I’m not concerned about my pace. My time in nature feeds my soul and refreshes me right down to my bones. I love it so much.

I started out on the wide bike path but soon chose a less traveled gravel path that wound down by a stream and up alongside the prairie. Eventually, I pulled up my phone’s maps app to see where I was.

A shallow stream with a red cardinal drinking along the bank

The map clearly showed trails within the park, so I was confident that I could choose any path and still find my way back to my car. After about 40 minutes, I noticed something: the trails on the map did not match the actual trails. Where the map showed a gravel trail back to the main parking area, my eyes only saw trees and prairie. But I wasn’t worried. I was in no great hurry, so I just kept walking until I found a newly mown path to follow. I found a hidden lake, a deep woods trail, a bubbling stream, and some beautiful wildflowers.

Eventually, I knew it was time to get serious about getting back. I kept taking a new trail, confident the parking lot would be right around the next bend. But no…just more trail. I wasn’t lost, exactly, but I wasn’t where I wanted to be either.

Here’s the kicker… I could see the parking lot, but I couldn’t get there. It was only about 300 yards across the dense prairie, but I wasn’t willing to hike through the tall grass (I don’t like snakes or poison ivy). The trail on my phone app looked like a straight shot, but instead of a trail, there was construction and fencing and no straightforward way around. I needed to find a different way to get where I needed to go.

There’s a sermon if I’ve ever heard one. Sometimes we can see where God wants us to go, but He hasn’t revealed exactly how He’s going to get us there. Sometimes you have to trust the process, even if it means turning around and heading in what seems like the wrong direction.

Back to my hike…

Up close view of a pink wildflower
Purple wildflower on a tall stem

I do enjoy a good, hot walk, so I made it to the edge of the park into a neighborhood and walked the 1.5 miles of sidewalk back to the park entrance and finally to my car. It was a wonderful afternoon. I was never worried. Obviously, I had my phone and could call for help if I really felt I needed it, but that feeling of “Where am I?” was slightly disconcerting for a few minutes.

What if I hadn’t had my phone? What if I had no map? At what point would I have turned around or chosen an easier route? Would I have gone off the beaten path or stayed safe on the bike trail?

As I journey through my daily life, I remember that slightly disquieting feeling of “Where am I?” and say a grateful prayer that I’m never lost as long as I’m safely following the leading of my Savior. I need to choose the trail He has me on and not wander off without consulting His map for my day. Thankfully, He’s always ready to help me get back on track when I make a wrong turn.

God is never lost. He is always my way out or my way through.

Here’s to long walks and the steady presence of God to guide us.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand… For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. ~Isaiah 41:10


I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. ~Isaiah 42:16

A Healthy Five Favorites

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What a way to get your steps! Galena, Illinois, steps from downtown to streets above.

The big 6-0 is approaching – less than a week to go. I’ve come a long way since November when I first started thinking about my upcoming birthday. Those few short months ago, I was dreading it. Sixty?! It sounds so old! But since then, I’ve begun taking active steps, mentally and emotionally, to shift my mindset from what I used to think, to what I want to think. Sixty is a number – it is not my identity. I’m going to work hard to make sure my sixties are the best decade of my life – emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically. Therefore, today’s wisdom will be five of my favorite ways to stay healthy…even at this advanced age.

 

  • Drink water. Lots of it.

A few years ago, when I was actively working out at a Curves facility (I really miss my Curves workouts and friends), one of my favorite pieces of advice was to drink water. Weight loss is easier when you are hydrated. Everything is easier when you’re hydrated. I’ve made it a goal to drink at least 80 ounces of water a day, and I do not count coffee as “water.” Coffee is wonderful, but it doesn’t add to your hydration. There are so many benefits of drinking water. Your body and brain will thank you!

  • Get up and move.

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C25k app is my go-to for 5k training every year.

Regular exercise, even just walking or stretching, will help you feel better. Of course, I’m no doctor (I don’t even play one on TV), but regular movement gets the endorphins going, loosens up stiff joints and muscles, and burns a few calories. I walk every day. My goal is 10,000 steps, and I feel as though I’m keeping my body in better shape for those “elderly” years (whenever that happens). We were gifted with a great treadmill at the end of last year, and I use it every day that I cannot get outside because of darkness or cold. I’ll begin my running regimen this month, instead of having to wait until whenever spring decides to show up.

 

  • Fruit and vegetables.

The recommended daily intake of five servings of fruit and vegetables seems pretty doable. I absolutely love vegetables and so eating them in abundance every day is not a hardship for me. You’ll enjoy the benefits of increased vitamins and fiber (and all that does for a body). Don and I love roasting vegetables seasoned with some flavorful salts and peppers (425 degrees, 15-20 minutes, drizzled with EVOO and seasonings). I try to eat an apple every afternoon, instead of hitting up my co-worker’s chocolate stash. Spinach in a smoothie, pulverized carrots and onions in a meatloaf, raw veggies with hummus as a snack…possibilities are endless.

  • Sleep.

I love sleep. And I know I need at least 7 hours of sleep to function at my best the next day. I’m usually asleep by 10ish on weekdays, and up before 6, so unless my mind decides otherwise, I do get a good night’s sleep most of the time. As I get older, I realize I’m more like a toddler. If I’m grumpy and pouty, it’s because I’m tired or hungry.

  • Occasional pampering.

One of the very best benefits of getting older is guilt-free time for some pampering. When I was in my 30s and 40s, I would have loved a mani-pedi, or a massage, or taking a long walk alone, but it wasn’t possible for a variety of reasons. People frown on moms who leave their small children home alone. We also didn’t have much extra money, and I would have felt awful using any funds for “silly” things like a pedicure.  But now that I’m working, Don’s working, and the kids are grown up and out of the house, I feel no guilt if I take some money for a sugaring session, or a pedicure, or buying a new pair of running shoes. Today I was able to have a 75-minute stone massage and it was wonderful! My kids gifted me with a session for last year’s birthday and I was happy to use it up.

I know there could be health surprises in my future; things I have no control over. But I also know God has shown me ways to be a good steward of the body I have. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and I want to honor Him with the choices I make. I want to be prepared for whatever my sixties hold. Come on 60! I hear you’re the new 40.

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Today’s Top 10 for Spring!

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Trail through woodsMy top 10 list of things to do this time of year:

10) Clean out my closet. I’m so tired of sweaters. Though I could wear boots year-round, I am looking forward to wearing sandals, or at least no socks! Now is a great time to sort through those clothes and shoes you didn’t wear over the long winter and donate to Salvation Army. Or make a little extra money by using Stuff Etc. Beware though – your consignment items need to be in very, very good condition to be accepted.

9) Trying a new restaurant. I enjoy going to new places any time of year, but there is something about spring that gives me extra bravery to try a different cuisine. I’m still waiting to try good Thai or Indian food. I do have someone who’s willing to go with me, so I just need to set the date.

8) Clean my windows. I actually enjoy cleaning my house windows, inside and out, when the weather is nice, and I can open everything up. Feels like a fresh start.

7) Move the furniture around. Another fresh start. Just don’t do it right before going to bed because you may end up stubbing your toes on the couch in the middle of the night. “Who moved that there?” I have some new furniture than only fits a certain way in my living room, so I’m going to have be extra creative this year.

6) Re-connecting with friends. The winter was treacherous. Lots of ice and snow kept most of us inside unless we absolutely had to go out. But now that that yucky stuff is gone, time to make some coffee dates with friends I haven’t seen since late fall. I may not be drinking caffeine, but most coffee shops offer herbal alternatives. And scones.

 

5) Fresh music playlist. I’ve listened to the same playlist all winter so time to change it up. Spotify makes it very easy to find whatever I want to listen to and create a playlist that I can access any time. Made a Lenten worship one the other day and loving it.EFY_2015_1

4) Running. I do not run in the winter. I’m old enough that recovery from a fall on ice or snow would be long and arduous, but come spring time, I’m ready to hit the trails again. I upload my C25K app (again) and start fresh with Day 1. Doesn’t take too long to get back into the swing of it. “You don’t need to go fast, you just need to go.”

3) Baseball is back. Cubs fan. That is all.

2) Long walks outside. I walk every day. If the weather is lousy, I walk during my lunch hour within my block-long office building or I hit the downtown sky walk system. If I include a parking deck or two, I can get three miles in over the hour. But once spring weather comes in, I love walking outside. The new playlist in my earbuds, my comfy boots or shoes, an occasionally muddy spot, blue skies, gentle (or blustery) breezes…recharges my battery and lifts my moody. Every time.

1) Easter. I don’t decorate in pastels, and bunnies, and eggs. Well, truthfully, I don’t decorate in much of anything, but for me Easter isn’t about all of that. Easter is THE holiday in my life. I take this time of year to reflect on the magnitude of this great thing – Christ Jesus gave His life on a brutal cross to take my sin so I could have eternity with Him in heaven. Easter isn’t just about the cross – it’s also about the tomb. He died for us, yet He rose again, victorious over sin and darkness. That is why Easter is so important…why it’s number one on my list.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10

He Is Risen

Happy Spring! Happy Easter!

Move It Like You Mean It

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office exercise

I’m going to tell you right up front. This blog is stolen. At least most of the suggestions in it are “borrowed.” Okay – now you know.

Spring is coming…spring is coming! Yes, it’s still 34 degrees and windy but hey! It’s only a week until March and March means spring! So – spring IS coming!

I don’t know about you but I’m so tired of being tired. I’m weary of dirty snow and wind chill in the negative numbers. I’m tired of using excuses to sit around and munch on whatever junk I have in my house, but it’s too cold or miserable to go outside. I’ve set March 1 as my date to get back at that running thing I try every year. The mornings will be a little lighter and I hope the ice and snow will be totally gone. I don’t mind running in puddles (as long as they aren’t 3 or more inches deep).

But until next Tuesday – I’m going to commit to more movement during my day. I work in an office so sitting is an Olympic sport here. I have to be creative to come up with ways to move around…and this is where I “stole” some ideas. If you’re like me, and need an excuse to get up and out of your chair, here are a few suggestions to get you up and moving:

*Instead of emailing someone, actually walk to their office for a face-to-face conversation.

*Drink more water. (What?) By drinking more water, you have to use the bathroom more often! Then use the bathroom furthest from your office (or, if you’re like me and wait too long, then use the one you can get to fastest).

*Use the stairs instead of the elevator (and that’s all the time, not just in an office setting).

*Step outside for a breath of fresh air periodically.

*Take a walk at lunch instead of sitting with your sandwich and reading a book the whole hour.

*Park your car in the farthest corner of the lot.

*Do some laps around the building at regular intervals or walk around the block, if that’s allowable at your office.

According to Dr. Mercola on the fitness.mercola website, over 50% of American men and 60% of American women never engage in any vigorous physical activity lasting more than 10 minutes per week. Ten minutes a week! Come on, people – we can do better! Prolonged daily sitting can increase risk of diabetes and heart disease. Dr. Mercola goes on to say that the key is to make sure you move your body frequently throughout the day.

So get up and dance! Right now! Get up and move it…move it…move it! Or do that yoga pose with your toes on your laptop while taking a selfie and post it, please!