Walking is Vital to My Conscientious Resilience!
Estimated reading time: 16 minutes, 47 seconds
Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Advice
Last week, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in “Memorial Days: A Memoir” by Geraldine Brooks, which left a deep mark on my heart. This beautifully written memoir navigates the emotional landscape of Brooks’s life as she copes with the devastating loss of her husband. One piece of wisdom that struck me came from Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, shared through a dear friend of Brooks’s: “Do your work. It might not be your best work, but it will be good work, and it will be what saves you.” This poignant reminder resonated powerfully with me, illustrating how essential it is to keep creating and connecting, even in our darkest hours. It’s a testament to the healing power of perseverance and purpose.
Looking back with perfect hindsight, it’s clear why I chose to start walking that day. On that bleak Friday morning, my only alternative was to languish at home, surrounded by haunting memories and a to-do list that seemed to multiply with every item I checked off. The weight of impending bills loomed over me like a dark cloud, especially after losing half of our family income with her last breath. I hadn’t had the heart to tackle the bills piled up like dust bunnies in my apartment for months. As Ms. Brooks insightfully points out in her memoir, navigating the aftermath of a loved one’s passing can quickly turn into a tangled mess, even for those who believe they’ve planned for every eventuality.
At times, work can become all-consuming. I often wonder if I’ve unintentionally developed a habit of excessive walking. In 2021, I walked at least one hundred miles a week on two separate occasions, each lasting three weeks. Living alone, I frequently question whether my motivation came from a desire to complete tasks, a search for meaning and purpose, or a loneliness that made long-distance walking my only solace.
Is it possible for a man in his seventies to walk that far? I have detailed records on my Apple Watch. I completed a holiday trifecta by walking over 100 miles for three weeks. Last summer, I walked 105.62 miles in one week, 97 miles the week before, and 98.04 miles the week after.
The details of the fall 2021 walks are as follows:
- November 22-28, 2021 – 102.54 miles
- November 14-20, 2021 – 100.31 miles
- November 7-13, 2021 – 102.98 miles
The attentive reader may notice one day missing from the November cycle. I previously used Fitbit, which counts weeks from Sunday to Saturday, whereas the Apple Watch counts weeks from Monday to Sunday. On Sunday, November 21, the total miles recorded were 14.64.
During the three weeks in November, I walked 303.83 miles, averaging 101.28 weekly. In July, the total miles walked over three weeks was 300.66, and the average was 100.22 miles per week.
I shared the November walkathon results with my primary care physician, hoping she would be pleased to know that I had been exercising, especially how far I had walked. However, her text response was not what I expected. She said, “I am glad you are exercising, but I am worried that you might hurt your knees at your age. Please walk daily, but for shorter distances.
One of my weaknesses has been stubbornness, and I am actively working to overcome it. Initially, I ignored my doctor’s advice but realized I did not need to push myself excessively. Acknowledging her concerns, I have adjusted my target to 60-70 miles per week.
After almost 48 years, I recently lost my wife, Jan Lilien. Like The Little Prince, Jan and I believed that “The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart.” This blog is a collection of my random thoughts on love, grief, life, and all things considered.
As you know, I am walking because of you. I am currently at day 55 of 100. Once I reach day 75, I plan to change my goal to walk 150 days.
I am excited by that goal because when I arrive at 150 days, I will have walked 10% of the days that you will have walked and it will be my one chance to have such alignment. I am excited!
So, why am I walking? I am walking because having a concrete goal of walking 100 days gives me reason not to quit. I am guessing that you start your walk each day for a similar reason. It gives you a reason not to quit, to keep going.
Once I begin my walk the reasons change and are different from day to day. However, the sense of accomplishment of having “walked today” is always there and my guess is that you likely walk for those endorphins too.
Thank you for inspiring me!
-Mark-
Mark, I want to express my gratitude for your friendship and support. It will be an honor to celebrate when you reach 150 days, and I’m currently at 1,410 days and counting.
I walk to enjoy the endorphins, but like you, each day I walk gives me one more reason not to quit. Some days my body protests, but once I start, the pain disappears, and I find myself in moments of tranquility with nature and life.
If I’ve inspired you to walk, you have encouraged me to live life fully after loss in countless ways.
I will always be grateful to have you as a friend.