I set some goals for myself this summer. I shared them here, but I’ve revised them. My goals are simple for this summer:

1. Walk

2. Write

3. Clean

4. Read

5. Swim

The first goal is the one I’d like to talk about. I have a confession…I’m a relatively sedentary person. The things I love to do include sitting: writing and reading. It’s not good. During this past school year, a friend nudged me to accompany her after school on walks. I did and look where I am now. School has been out since June 15th. Of the sixteen weekdays, I’ve walked fourteen of them: missed one for rain and one for not feeling well. 

My day starts with the walk. Sometimes I walk with a friend and other days I walk alone…in silence or accompanied by some of my favorite tunes…in the cool mornings or in the extreme heat. Regardless, I lace up my sneakers and I walk. 

How has this changed me? I feel better. I have energy. My day begins with something already accomplished. Feeling more motivated, I get more done and I am happier.

Walking has helped me as a writer too. I work out ideas as I walk. This morning, I wrote my typewriter poem, in my head, on my walk. (I jotted it down in my note app, so I could type it later.) 

Walking calms me and gives me confidence. This helps when I sit down to write. As writers, we often doubt ourselves. I often have the, “I’m not good enough!” imposter syndrome worry. Walking calms that in me. I don’t know why. I don’t understand it. (I don’t even care why!) 

Walking has motivated me to clean and purge and organize. I’m almost done with my house and the garage is next. Taking a walk can be overwhelming to a sedentary person like me. It’s all about one step at a time…hmmm, just like writing. One word after another.