My healing journey inspired by the book Healing Walks for Hard Times by Carolyn Scott Kortge
I knew right out of the gate that walking this morning would be a challenge. My husband has an appointment with the dentist today for an extraction, and he requested my presence. Today is payday, so there are groceries to buy, bills to pay, and countless errands with three of my sons in tow. Not a day that promises serenity. So, it’s early morning, kids are still snoring, and I am back to the book, page 5.
Nothing changes if nothing changes. Somebody step on my fingers before I text that to everyone on my contact list. I’m changing!
Reach out. Not an easy thing for me to reach out when I need help, though I have become better in recent years about accepting it when it is offered. But the author doesn’t just encourage reaching out to get help, but to offer help too. I depend on God for all of my physical, spiritual, and emotional needs. It took a long time for me to realize that He often meets those needs through others. I think of times when people just happened along extending themselves at just the right moment, seeming like angels in the face of my distress. Then there were those other priceless times when someone accused me of being their angel in a particular circumstance.
My daughter just completed her first year in the Navy. I miss her. We rarely skip a day of connecting by phone. She shared with me what an emotional challenge it has been for her adjusting to the Navy. While I pray for God to send her the help and support she needs, I encourage her to also be a help to others who are there going through the same thing she is suffering. Help yourself by helping others.
Choosing A Course: For now, I have decided to use the walking track at our local park. It is a mile from the house, well marked, and seemingly safe. But my goal is to take advantage of living in the country and enjoy walks on a more rugged nature trail. I think it is Paul in the book of Romans who says that nature itself proves the existence of God. I want to get closer to Him.
Gear Up: The author mentioned the importance of good running shoes and moisture wicking socks. At present, there is nowhere in our budget that allows for such purchases, and if there was, I would probably buy something for the children instead. As I mentioned yesterday, it is cold out there! I’m wearing old warm ups and five dollar tennis shoes that I bought for work awhile back. Luckily Annie bought me a coat when she was home for Christmas, and Jonna bought me gloves last Christmas, so I felt substantially suited for now. Maybe as a reward later on, I will venture into one of those athletic stores that the author mentioned!
Get Ready, Get Set: I had already walked my first day at a comfortable pace for a comfortable distance before reading this section of the book. I would certainly have thought I was at the bottom of whatever fitness schedule was to be introduced. I lead a sedentary life and all of my hobbies are the “sit-down” type. But having walked almost thirty minutes yesterday and not having any medically diagnosed physical limitations categorizes me in what the author labels the Mid-Stride/Moderate Level. This means twenty minute walks 6 days a week to start. The book states that 30 minutes daily meets the Surgeon General’s recommendation for health maintenance. So, I am counting it joy that I was able to start at a good pace, and not have to work up to that. But I do recognize that the challenge for me is to do it daily. Help me Lord!
Move On: This is more of that cognitive overriding I read about yesterday! Walking in spite of the life situations that are sure to happen. Today was certainly a lesson in that.
Make History: The author recommends keeping a log of my efforts. That certainly appeals to my nature. I am a blogger and “to-do” list maker at heart. I have about a hundred single-subject spiral notebooks in the closet. But instead of just writing my performance, the author suggests filling in my goals for the whole week first. Her sample log is on page 13 of the book.
Walking and Wellness: The book offers impressive statistical information on the many benefits of walking/exercise for the body and mind. My Healing Walks journey was prompted by several factors. Like many overweight women, I do not visit the doctor as I should. Our health insurance recently required all members to take a health survey. It was not very in depth. I don’t drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes, so that was a plus. My weight, however, did prompt them to suggest regular exercise and regular check ups with my doctor.
So, what about my weight? I stepped on my oldest daughter’s scale on Christmas morning only to discover, that surely…it must be broken. I am barely 5’2” and that scale had the nerve to read 190.6. I knew it must have been a typo, but it wasn’t. So not only am I horrendously larger than a woman of my height and bone structure should be (I outweigh my husband, for Heaven’s sake!), I also weigh roughly 12 pounds more than I did only 2 months ago. Yes, I know this isn’t supposed to be just about the physical body, but honestly, having a physical body that out of whack does not bode well for inner peace. I wasn’t devastated as you might imagine. Honestly, 178 pounds was a pretty fair warning that 190 was around the corner. So, I am concerned. Concerned enough to do something about it.
So, day two of my log was pretty similar to day one. I walked 1.5 miles in 30 minutes. It wasn’t as cold as yesterday. There was no trace of snow on the ground. But it was very windy, and my hood did not stay on, so my hair was flying everywhere. There was another walker there, obviously in pretty good shape as he passed me at earlier places on the track each time around. A turkey vulture circled overhead, probably hoping I would pass out on the track. I sang a hymn in my mind. I prayed for children everywhere. I am encouraged and happy about two days of huge success for me, and I am looking forward to tomorrow.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
DAY ONE December 29, 2010
My healing journey inspired by the book Healing Walks for Hard Times by Carolyn Scott Kortge
I began reading Healing Walks this morning before anyone else in the house was awake. I was glad to find some interesting insight in the very first pages:
It is important to walk daily. The author compared the prescription of walking to a prescription of medicine. It can’t work if not taken regularly.
Walking is more than just mere exercise… it aligns body, mind, and spirit. It occurred to me reading the book, that if body, mind, and spirit are so interconnected, that an obvious need in one area would certainly affect the other two. So, I am going to spring for the whole package and attempt tri-fold healing.
Spending a good portion of your walk in silence has multiple benefits, so don’t chatter the time away with a walking buddy, or sing it away with Pearl Jam.
And… I learned a new term. I liked it so much, that I immediately texted it to my four adult children:
Cognitive Override- using your intellectual strength to make decisions that are in your best interest, even when your spirit feels low.
Isn’t that interesting? I remember a few years ago explaining to my teen daughter that even though she had just suffered an emotional setback of the typical teen age variety, school was very important, and her entire anatomy grade depended on her studying for an upcoming test.
She cried, “I can’t study, Momma…I just can’t.”
I demanded, “You can! You must! You will!”
She insisted, “I can’t, and I won’t!”
She didn’t. The inability to cognitively override.
I am hoping that now that I know what cognitive override is, that I will execute it more successfully in my own life.
I went to the park at 8:00 this morning and walked 1.5 miles in under 30 minutes. This was a test walk. I didn’t rush myself or push myself too hard. If this is going to be successful, it will also have to be enjoyable. I assume that in as much as athletes are concerned, that was a meager beginning, but I felt really good about it. It was a cold 35 degrees. I was bundled from had to toe. Snow that came on Christmas morning had almost melted. I was the only person there…seriously…the only one! I didn’t take an MP3 player, but I played a gospel hymn in my mind. I am thinking of my healing walks as the next step on a healing journey that I began long ago.
I began reading Healing Walks this morning before anyone else in the house was awake. I was glad to find some interesting insight in the very first pages:
It is important to walk daily. The author compared the prescription of walking to a prescription of medicine. It can’t work if not taken regularly.
Walking is more than just mere exercise… it aligns body, mind, and spirit. It occurred to me reading the book, that if body, mind, and spirit are so interconnected, that an obvious need in one area would certainly affect the other two. So, I am going to spring for the whole package and attempt tri-fold healing.
Spending a good portion of your walk in silence has multiple benefits, so don’t chatter the time away with a walking buddy, or sing it away with Pearl Jam.
And… I learned a new term. I liked it so much, that I immediately texted it to my four adult children:
Cognitive Override- using your intellectual strength to make decisions that are in your best interest, even when your spirit feels low.
Isn’t that interesting? I remember a few years ago explaining to my teen daughter that even though she had just suffered an emotional setback of the typical teen age variety, school was very important, and her entire anatomy grade depended on her studying for an upcoming test.
She cried, “I can’t study, Momma…I just can’t.”
I demanded, “You can! You must! You will!”
She insisted, “I can’t, and I won’t!”
She didn’t. The inability to cognitively override.
I am hoping that now that I know what cognitive override is, that I will execute it more successfully in my own life.
I went to the park at 8:00 this morning and walked 1.5 miles in under 30 minutes. This was a test walk. I didn’t rush myself or push myself too hard. If this is going to be successful, it will also have to be enjoyable. I assume that in as much as athletes are concerned, that was a meager beginning, but I felt really good about it. It was a cold 35 degrees. I was bundled from had to toe. Snow that came on Christmas morning had almost melted. I was the only person there…seriously…the only one! I didn’t take an MP3 player, but I played a gospel hymn in my mind. I am thinking of my healing walks as the next step on a healing journey that I began long ago.
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