Mine, in particular.
At the beginning of this year, I decided I wanted to do a few things routinely. Things such as drinking less alcohol, (or maybe quit drinking it altogether), pray the Rosary everyday, exercise, and read the Bible in a year. I thought to, maybe, start some sort of yoga program, or a Pilates-type exercise program, to start walking every day, or at least a few times a week.
One thing led to another, and I only started 2 of those things, my daily Rosary prayers, and listening to the Bible in a Year, both on the Hallow app.
Unfortunately for me I didn’t get to the exercising bits until recently, having gained about 10 pounds in the past year, hovering at 90kg on my 155cm frame. My hips became painful, my lower legs swelled to an incredible size as I sat most of the day, every day, and my back, well, let’s not even go there.
Now, thank the Lord, I have begun a daily routine that starts each morning with saying the Rosary, then listening to the BIAY, then doing my selected set of back, and core strengthening exercises. All of that takes about 45 minutes, and gets me ready for my day, whatever it brings. I try to get outside for my walk around the park between 11am, and 1pm.; that is when the sun it high enough in the sky to give me a gentle tan, and still cool enough to enjoy the walk.
I started out walking just one time around the park, a 1k walk to be sure. I had to stop about every 10 ft, or so to stretch my back, and hips, then continue on. I always have my walking stick, a 4ft high 2” in diameter, branch that I found in the park several months ago, to aid me in my walks. I started out leaning quite heavily on it, but now I carry it at my side, mostly to clean the dog poop off the sidewalks in the park.
Actually, I’ve taken, recently, to walking in the streets around the outside of the park; no dog poop. Plus, it gives me the most amount of unshaded road. I can absorb as much vitamin D as I can without too much shadow.
Yesterday, for the first time ever, I walked 3 times around the park for a 3k total walk. It has taken me about 2 months to get to this distance, and it’s getting so much easier to walk farther with less pain, thank you Jesus, that I actually look forward to my walks. The 3 times around takes me about an hour at the moment, but as I build up my musculature again, and decrease my overall volume, I should be will be able to walk faster, and with less discomfort than when I started walking.
Until next time, stay happy, and healthy in the Lord.
I leave you with a photo of my trusty, rustic walking stick, my ever faithful companion. Mi bastón. (Me bas-TONE)
