Do It Now

Mile Marker 600:

At Mile Marker 1, my friend Jeff suggested I post a column on the blog for upcoming walks.

What potential!  I thought.  People could join me!  The more the merrier!  There’s power (and fun) in numbers! 

I imagined the places we’d visit:  gardens, hiking trails, museums….  I looked forward to meeting new blog followers.  Traveling near and far.

I’ll do it soon, I thought, when I’m able to PLAN.

That was more than a year ago.  Back then, I'd just graduated from using a cane.  I was knee-deep in socket pain.  I concentrated intently on each and every step.

Learning to run
(well, kinda!)

600 miles later, a lot has changed.  

But I still CAN'T PLAN!

With Mile Marker 600, came more abdominal pain.  Wednesday night, it got so bad I summoned the troops (a.k.a. my parents).  Bag packed for the hospital, Mom sat in my bedroom until – hours later -- the pain subsided enough that we decided not to go.

For the next 2 days, I nourished myself with clear liquids and quiet activities. 

I organized 2 summers’ worth of France pictures.  I baked some magnifique mini-quiches -- which are now in the freezer because I can't eat them yet.

...not that!

Eat this...

I set up a calendar for the new school year.  And as I did, I was shocked by a disturbing trend: 

Over the past 600 miles, I’ve CANCELED more plans than I’ve kept.

Appointments, lunches, walks.  Meetings at work.  “Scratch that” has become my motto.

No, that's not me!  I think.  I'm organized.  I'm reliable.

It’s just temporary, I tell myself.  But it’s like trying to believe there’s no Greenhouse Effect in the midst of the hottest summer on record.

So at Mile Marker 600, it was blatantly obvious:  I needed a new slogan.  And during my "sick days," I had plenty of time to come up with one:

DO IT NOW!

How does that sound?  It's my version of Nike’s Just Do It.   I’ve been inspired by Oscar Pistorius and the other Olympians.  They make me want to do it ALL now!  

But the toughest part is I never know when the pain’s going to strike.  These days, if I can do one small thing – wash the dishes, change the linens, walk around the block – I’m ahead of the game.

DO IT NOW  takes each moment as it comes.  It allows me to make the most of the times I'm feeling good.  It’s a split-second decision to get out there when I can -- with or without a plan.

I've MISSED a lot over the past 21 months -- planning vacations, going out at night, jumping on my bike to run an errand.  Reminders linger around every corner.  

For 15 years, I skated every Sunday morning.  Now, I miss jumping over potholes and cruising off curbs.  I miss dodging other skaters and climbing hills.  I miss the steamy exhaustion and the adrenaline rush that comes along with it.

My friends still skate.  Often, I meet them afterward for the post-skate brunch (on days when I can eat, anyway).   You might argue that I got the better end of the deal.  Food and company without all that sweat and hard work!

But last Sunday -- during that morning in NoLibs -- it occurred to me:  I had a place to go!  I had something to do!  It was an adventure, and it was so much FUN!

At Mile Marker 600, Jeff's suggestion from Mile 1 still rings in my ears.  I want to get out, walk, and explore.  I want YOU to come along.

But lately, my health has made it so difficult to plan!

DO IT NOW, my gut tells me.  (And the gut is a powerful thing!)  

So the "plans" will be come-as-you-are.  Spontaneous.  Easy.  And, yes, FUN!

Check out the new WALK WITH ME column in the upper right corner of the blog.  Watch for postings of adventures and outings.  Check the Facebook Page, too.

Comment and post your own ideas.  

Join me!  

JOIN US!

We’ll walk together!  

There’s POWER and FUN in numbers!

It’s one small step, but isn't that what this journey's built on?

... Best of all, there's a last minute cancellation policy  :)