Power Walking

When I think of power walking, I think back to the very early mornings when I was a newspaper delivery person. This was the time when the morning news HAD to be delivered each day before 7am no matter of the weather elements, be it: rain, snow or mighty winds. If a newspaper was delivered late, the customer could call in to the Herald and make a complaint about their largely teen aged deliverers. Back to power walking- when I nearly completed my route, I would walk by this house where, presumably, it was a husband and wife, leave their front door in matching track suits (windbreakers of assorted colors) and they would walk, with force and purpose. I thought it was kind of quirky but really liked the idea of growing old with someone who also shares the value of daily physical exercise. 

Now, I see power walking in a completely different light. We are living through an unprecedented time. A time when a pandemic meets the ever-connected global community. COVID-19 is raging through every country. We have vaccines in production (3 finished the trial stage), with dozens more in the final stage of human trials, but we have months, even years to come of uncertainty and anxiety. 

Will my family be safe? Will my Grandmother live to see another year? Will I be able to hug her again without any guilt tied of spreading a virus? Will my sons continue to be safe at school? Will we be able to travel abroad in the next couple of years? Will the vaccines be effective? Will enough of the population trust them to stop the spread? So many questions. So much doubt in returning to a world where strangers could gather indoors without a care.

Walking gives me an escape from these questions. It relaxes my mind and builds up the happy chemicals to give me hope. Hope for positive changes, hope for some control, and hope for tomorrow. It also helps in burning through some of those comfort calories that are consumed just being in the near proximity of my kitchen. 

Through social media, I saw a friend do the 100km a week, walk challenge. Over the past few months of the world shutting down, I have completed this challenge three weeks. By Sunday evening my feet are throbbing but my heart feels happy and hopeful. 

If you are feeling depressed, I highly recommend this challenge. You will be surprised by the power that walking holds. 




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