Path to Progress

The path to progress and good intentions walked
into reality.

I bought the boots.  They're actually just a sturdy hiking shoe.  They're made for walkin'.  And we are certainly do that.

When people ask what Handy Andy has been doing lately, my reply wants to be a monosyllabic "walk."  It really seems like that all that gets done.  My moderately busy body has gone from logging, at best, six miles a week to pounding out 25 to 30.  And it takes time to cover six or seven miles in an afternoon.  My previously unused muscles are so grateful to head back home, in the front door and sit while I pull off the hiking shoes and blow my nose one more time as it leaks from the chill air.

But this I know for sure as I begin my fourth week of hiking on purpose around my neighborhood, that though this may fill up a significant portion of the Things I get to do today, and though the muscles are really tired on the long-walk days, now is the best time to build a stronger body.  All the paths walked are progress.

Do Not Bend

The message of this envelope struck me as absurd.  Of all the Things I get to do today at least 90% of them will include bending something, and I've already bent this envelope twice.

Being almost an official Senior Citizen, bending keeps me in shape.  I intend to keep doing it regularly and as often as I like.  Why should senior citizens, or any citizens for that matter, not bend?

This envelope has been on my desk for two weeks waiting for this blog to come into being.  I wanted to write about being bent by these thoughtless commands from nobodies in general and these folks in particular.  They're from Tampa, Florida, if that matters.  For the record I have nothing against Tampa.  I was there once.

Now is the moment of revelation:  what is in the envelope?   A real-estate ad?  Information about super absorbent, disposable undergarments?  An investment opportunity?

This is hard to believe.  The content of the precious "Senior Citizen Offer"--"Do Not Bend" envelope from Tampa, Florida, is a magazine subscription offer!  For Sunset Magazine!  Last time I checked, you couldn't subscribe unless you lived on the West Coast of the USA.  And the folks in Tampa want me to know I'm special but still do not want me to bend.



Well, at least it wasn't an offer from AARP or for Depends.  Life is good, and it just got better.

The Second Best is Today

There will be no pictures. The body I see is definitely a "before" physique.  Nothing wrong with that, but I want strength and shape. Some of my pants are tight enough to be uncomfortable.  Over the years my technique for staying slim (besides having skinny genes) is never to buy bigger clothing.  My recent birthday and the tight pants have been the inspiration for paying more attention to the condition of the body I want to have for the rest of my life.

So today begins a serious commitment to myself--even if it is the only Thing I get to do today, though I'm hoping there will be enough left in my tank for a few other simple tasks after my work out.

Here's the plan:  fitness workout three days a week;  yoga and/or aerobics at the our local community center on two days (walking the 3/4 mile each way); longer walk one day; one day of rest.

And now it's evening. I did all the workout.  I was able to clean the house--dust, really scrub the kitchen floor and vacuum--and my tank is empty.  The body's tired and a bit sore everywhere, that good kind of sore that says the effort will make a difference, and I'm smugly pleased with myself for following through. It would have been great if I'd been paying better attention last year and the one before, but starting today is also excellent.  It's similar to this proverb about trees:  The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago.  The second best is today.  I began today.