A Short Entry to Say…

I am very pleased with myself this morning because I have walked up and down the road I live on twice without having to take a break as I did yesterday. I stopped a few times in patches of shade because it is pretty hot and humid out there and I must admit that for the last bit I had to call on sheer stubbornness to finish. But I did it and walked into the air conditioned apartment, grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator and collapsed on the couch until my breathing went back to normal. But, for me, the really interesting part of this is that for the first time for a long time, I got my heart rate up and am now feeling the physical and mental euphoria I get from doing this. Losing weight is part of why I like walking but I also like this "high" I get from pushing my body a bit and, of course, this is the direct opposite of depression and much better for me than pill-taking!

The improvements in my health and in my ability to walk are not so dramatic and much more subtle than they were in the first few weeks. For example, this morning I am aware that although there is muscle discomfort in the upper part of my left leg, it is not as bad as it was a week ago. I hold the stick in my right hand and now, since the pain of the surgery on my left hip is subsiding, I am noticing that my right arm and shoulder are getting tired as I walk! Hmmm, maybe I an building muscles there! This afternoon is my first outside physical therapy appointment. {I am still doing the exercises that Jen, the PT person who came to the house, taught me how to do.} This appointment is at 5 pm and Fred will drive me up there a few minutes early this first time because there is, of course, paperwork! I was thinking about trying to walk home since it is downhill all the way, but Fred said he thought this wasn’t a good idea because of the heat. I have {somewhat reluctantly, I have to say } come to realize that he can see when I am trying to do too much better than I can these days and so I will let him drive me home, too. Well, this first time, anyway.

QUOTATION: If you have the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed.

— David Viscott

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