365 days of walking

Sat Nam Folks, This is my first post! Yay! I'm noticing that it is much easier to commit to something non-computer/technology related than it is to commit to something I already know how to do like walking. I needed support from several people just to get to this moment. Thank you all, you know who you are. I've been gearing up for this post for quite some time now.

Commitment. What is it, really? I've been exploring this concept intentionally for exactly 144 days now. On December 21st, 2009 I decided to walk every day for one week. I figured this would be a good way to practice regularity with something rather than the all or nothing approach in relation to my own exercise regime. All, being running 2-5 miles several days a week in the lovely, warm and wonderful days starting the end of April beginning of May until that first frost (notice, no adjectives used to describe how I feel about this time of year, how very neutral of me) somewhere in late September, early October. Or nothing, meaning nothing!(Except of course my yoga practice) Nothing. No running or not much walking from those chilly days that start in September until the end of April. Ugh! I would always vow to join the health club or keep up with something throughout those months. But, it rarely happened.

So, last December I decided to try an experiment. What if I walked every day for one week? Just two miles; one mile up my road and one mile down. I loved that idea! I could handle this even if it was cold. Walking is different than running; you can put on several layers, still take one step after the other and not feel too encumbered by your new Michelin Man look (I'm not spending money right now on high-tech clothes that are paper thin and promise to keep you warm in 10 degree weather). So that's what I did. From what I remember it was cold in December, but layering the old fashioned way does work.

I set out, very pleased with my new idea, chanting Sat Narayan Hari Narayan Hari Narayan HariHari and I walked for seven days. During those seven days, it became very clear to me that this was a good idea. I decided to commit to 100 days of walking. If I started the 100 days on January 1, I would reach the end of that goal on April 10, 2010, the day before my father's 84th birthday. That sounded cool (literally!) I was not going to not count the last days of 2009, so I decided to walk for a total of 111 days. This was my experiment with big things in life like, discipline, commitment, consistency. I felt empowered by the knowing that I would keep up with this no matter what. Don't ask me why I felt this way, I hadn't shown that much consistency in any area of my life. But, as I said this was an experiment.

It went like this: some days I would walk right after my children got on the bus at 7:05, some days before they came home from school, some days after and some days after they were already in bed at 8pm. That's a lovely idea if the the weather has been in the 80's all day and you need to walk when the sun has gone down and the air is perfectly cooler. But in January? Have you ever gone out for your daily walk at 8pm in upstate NY when it's ZERO out and the wind is whipping. Did I mention that the wind was whipping and the coy dogs are howling in the distance? OK, I know I'm being a bit dramatic. All of the facts stated above though are true. I would start out bundled up with so much clothing, my older children were more worried I would suffocate from scarves wrapped too tightly than die from frostbite. Out I would go determined to keep up, chanting my mantra, feeling like a trooper. I would return 25 minutes later sweating with frozen eyelashes. That's it, only frozen eyelashes. Wow! I am doing it. I am committed, I would think.

And that's how it was. And as I neared day 111, I knew I would keep walking until 365 days had passed and I could be sure that I understood consistency, discipline and commitment. I have a sense that understanding these important concepts is a life long process that I will continue to understand with more clarity with each passing step.

Here's the point: when you make a commitment to something it has an impact, on you, on your friends, family and community. I have had to reorganize my life for this walk; in many ways. I have had to leave gatherings to walk, leave in the middle of dinner even. My family has shown all kinds of response to my commitment. My children at different points have shown everything from horror when it's bedtime and they think I forgot to walk ("Oh no mommy, you forgot to walk today"), to complete disgust at the fact that they can't have something they want right then and there, because I have to walk ("I hate your stupid walk, it's not fair!!"). I know for sure that they, like me are learning something though. I am starting to understand the power of the word. I'm doing this just because I said I was going to do it. There is real power in that for me and I am thrilled to be building up that muscle because I know it will serve me well in all areas of my life. So, here's to consistency! Here's to commitment! Here's to starting with something I know I can do, ie walking.

What is something you can commit to everyday? It doesn't have to be a huge undertaking, simply something that gives you a deeper sense of your own strength and clarity. Something that stretches you a little and yet is not going to push you over the edge because it is too challenging. I encourage each of you to choose something that you know will be good for you to commit to everyday and JUST DO IT!! Sat Nam and much love to you!
Jai Hari