What Keeps You Going?

As I was walking this morning I thought about what keeps me going.  Why do I do this?  Why do I get up early - when it's dark and cold - and go for my morning walk?

My answers:
I love starting the day with a brisk walk.  It motivates me to grab hold of the day - to be more active all day.  Somehow if I miss my walk, I also become more lax during the day.  I feel more lethargic.  I am more tempted to eat less healthy foods.  I crave junk. 

My walk gives me time to think, ponder and pray.  It's not selfish to have time for yourself.  In fact, having time for yourself makes you more ready and able to give to others.  Having the time to think, ponder and pray is awesome! 

I love the quietness.  Even though I'm listening to Debbie Rocker on my MP3 player, and even though cars are passing by as the world wakes up and gets their day going, I feel quietness.  I'm in my own world.  My thoughts are mine and uninterrupted.  It's a nice feeling.

I love the views.  At first, the darkness.  The awakening of the world.  The sun rising.  The frost sparkling in the new sun.  Right now the various Christmas decorations - the gardens, the houses.  The changing seasons. The weather. Sometimes even the garbage - and seeing what people put into the recycling! :) 

Waving to the regulars and new "friends".  Funny how just by being in the same place with others at the same time gives you a bond with them.  Every morning I see some regulars: the old man playing in the schoolyard with his beautiful dog.  We always wave to each other.  The man walking his growling dog.  We wave and I stay away.  The woman walking two dogs.  The woman sitting outside on her porch, smoking.  We always wave.  The kids waiting for their school bus: some say "hello", others pretend they don't see me.

The compliments encourage me.  When I first started my walks years ago, I felt self-conscious.  I felt like everyone would stare at me.  And stare they did.  Mainly, I think, because they are wondering about my vest! hehe I wear a weighted vest.  It's 10 lbs. (it can be less than that if I remove some of the sand pouches).  It adds resistance to my workout and I love it.  I've worn it now for about 3 years.  Usually if someone stops me they compliment me on my consistency.  Sometimes they just say "way to go!"  Others lament and tell me that they should be doing what I'm doing.  Others tell me that they used to be able to do what I'm doing but they can't now for this or that reason.  I usually encourage them back.  I am no longer self-conscious on my walks.  I've heard it over and over of how inspiring I am.  And if I can inspire anyone, I'm happy with that! (and I tease my daughter, when I walk her to her bus stop, that I'm her bodyguard ... my vest looks like it's bullet-proof, but I wouldn't want to test sand bags against bullets...lol). 

I like the way it makes me feel.  Plain and simple, even if my body still isn't buff (or never does become buff) - I feel so much better when I exercise.  I have more enthusiasm for life, more energy.  I feel and am stronger.  I can feel my body toning up.  I feel healthier.  I am healthier.

WHAT KEEPS YOU EXERCISING REGULARLY?

✿ A Healthier Me! ~ Dawn