Tag: Well-being

A Good Walk !!

My wife, Debbie, and I recently had an extended visitor at our house. It was our daughter’s sheepdoodle, Wags. We love our granddog, and it’s a joy when he excitedly romps around our house. We had him for a week before, but he needed to visit for a bit longer this time. So, we had him for three full weeks !!

Some people enter the phase of their lives as empty nesters with trepidation and hesitancy. That was not us. We deeply love our kids (adults). We love that they’ve taken flight and found new homes and cities to live in. We continue to be a very close-knit family regardless of space and time zones. As an empty nester, you get used to living with just you two in the house. There was a small adjustment at first, but then we easily adapted to our new norm.

We’ve had cats in the past as additional roommates. They were both wonderful and with us for years. We tried an experiment with a rescue dog before our daughter was born 32 years ago. It didn’t go well. He was a fantastic dog, but he needed constant companionship and attention. We both worked, so it wasn’t ideal for him. We found him a home through a rescue shelter on a massive farm where he could run for days. We’re sure he had a full life being a farm dog !!

Back to today . . .

Wags is the ultimate companion. He loves being with you and being active. Debbie gets to spend time with him since her retirement, and when I get home from work, he jumps to attention, waiting to go on an extended walk or play for hours at a time. I decided to do my best to walk him twice daily for at least 30 minutes at a time. During his visit, nature decided to throw a mix of massive cold, wind, and rain at us. I was undaunted. He needed to walk.

So, I did something I had “threatened” to do for years . . . exercise. I set my alarm for a very early wake-up call, rolled out of bed, walked over Wags, and got dressed. I slowly made it downstairs, put on layers of jackets and a headlamp, and out the door we trekked. The cold morning air snapped me awake whether I wanted to be or not. After about a block, I felt ready to head into the darkness to make sure we had a good dose of exercise.

On the weekends, I could get him out to a local park with a trail that loops around a lake. It’s over 1 1/2 miles on the regular loop, and he relished the chance to take it on. New smells. New sights. New people to encounter. He was full of excitement for every step. I loved seeing our shadows together as my companion pulled me with eagerness around the trail.

As our extended visit was drawing to a close, I had a choice. Did I keep walking without the dog ?? I was now in a pattern of walking over 4 miles a day, and I felt better than I had in years. I breathed easier, and a few pounds may have evaporated. I decided to keep walking !!

Since then, I’ve been getting up early, stumbling down the stairs, donning my headlamp, and heading out. At times, I turn on music through my Shokz headphones, and other days, I just take in the sounds of the birds. I have been able to see and enjoy the sunrise every day, which I have missed for decades. It has been wonderful. This past week, I went to a conference and walked each morning with one of my friends who was also attending. When I returned from that, Debbie decided to join me too !!

What had been a necessity for Wags to burn off energy and do his business, now became a needed habit for my well-being. I’m going to do my best to stick with it because I’m more alert, patient, and excited to face the day ahead. I don’t want that to wane. I could fill a book with excuses for why I should have exercised, and I’m sure many reading this could as well. I could also let you know that life is too full and busy with activities that are far more “important” and deserve my time and attention.

Here’s a dose of reality. (This is not new, by the way. People have been extolling the virtues of exercise for centuries.) When I’m healthier, I’m better. At home, as a husband, as a friend, as a co-worker, and as a human. I can perform better because I’m in a better place.

I’d encourage you to see what your daily pattern is like. Is it too full ?? Do you have 30 minutes you could allocate to something else ?? Would you like to feel better each day ??

I suggest this. Have a good walk.

The Reality of Rest

If you’ve been following this blog for any amount of time, you know I’m a person who is on the go most of the time. Activity fills my bucket. I have a driving urge that my next experience is going to be an adventure !! I’m not talking about something grandiose either. Meeting a unique person in a shop in a small town. Having an encounter with a stranger that turns out to be unexpected and interesting. Working on our daughter’s house to repair, paint and give it her touch. The list can be endless.

I eagerly enter each day with anticipation that something amazing is sure to occur. I know. This sounds naive and superficial. I can assure you it’s not. Ever since I can remember, I have seen life as robust with opportunities to look around the next corner at something completely new. Always being on the go has a price though . . .

I’m not good at resting. Never have been. This endless yearning of wonderment runs counter to slowing down even for a moment. I tend to collapse even after a full day at work. The energy I try to pour into others while also getting them to see life from a brighter perspective is exhausting. I’m not complaining. I’d have it no other way. I just want you to know that the science of expending energy affects me greatly as I’m sure it does you.

Most people I know collapse or burst. They either run themselves into the ground with countless tasks they attack and at times accomplish. Or, they sprint as if there is no end to a race and then explode emotionally. This results in a few days off either from your body slowing you down because you won’t pay attention or a mini vacation just to remove yourself from the hectic pace.

Bursting is as unhealthy as collapsing. We convince ourselves this isn’t the case and we tell ourselves that our company, department, project, etc. would surely fail if we weren’t constantly diligent and present. I fully believe in self-worth and self-assuredness in life. However, if we delude ourselves into feeling we are indescribably valuable, then we lack the most important “self” – self-awareness.

This weekend, I decided to be intentional and embrace the reality of rest. I put down my phone, went out with my wife and friends to music trivia and some drinks, and even slept in on Saturday morning !! All day Saturday, I limited my activity and drive to always do something. That resulted in watching a movie, getting some ice cream after making dinner in our Instant Pot, and even squeezing in a nap. Just one day of slowing down helped me mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Today I went to church, washed our cars, and sat down to write this blog. Limiting my activity didn’t hurt one bit and as far as I can tell, the world is still spinning. I was on social media but barely. Later, I plan to pick up a book and read or even start a puzzle without a screen in sight.

People are still milling around and falling into the trap that hustling and running is a needed component in today’s society while I chose to rest. We can’t advance the cause of well-being if we don’t take care of ourselves. Rest is needed SO we can get back in, stay active and thrive.

This week break the pattern of collapsing or bursting. Encourage others to do the same throughout your family and your workplace. Build in rest. When you do, you’ll see you actually have more energy and time than you expected !!