These feet were made for walking. Joy is in each step of my journey

 Walking...

It had become a chore.

I started driving on my own only 8 years ago. It helped to give me the time and space I needed in my head and schedule to get things done. Before that, I bussed and walked everywhere.

Can you believe that I had trauma from taking the bus??? (Enter Rosa Parks... ) I could not believe how many times I was being "made" to run for blocks before the bus driver would stop and let me on. Pounding on the doors, watching them laugh as they drove off... I sprinted between stops, got there ahead of them only for them to keep driving.

DANG!! I was SO DONE with that crap!!

Can you imagine, doing that WITH a baby stroller, downtown...? YES! Either on my own or with the kids in tow.

Driving gave me the "mental" peace of travelling more on our terms.

SIGH! I can feel the peace in that transition even now <3

...

But for years, I had prided myself on "footing" it everywhere. I made great time...on time (that's why I ran making those connections)... and I loved that I was ABLE to walk.

Yes! ABLE! I had not only plantar fasciitis, but some severe tearing in my feet from inappropriate work footwear. I was slated for a surgery that was only 50% guaranteed to work or render me unable to walk.

I wanted to be able to go long distances on my own feet. I wanted to be able to stand for more than 5 minutes at a time.

I DID find the solution that saved me from both surgery and from a life of immobility.

I walked to places that I should have bussed to (because I could, and I was done with the bus-riding drama 🤣🤣🤣).

I took my time and enjoyed the sights and sounds....WITH my little ones in tow. That's right. This was after having both our boys and while towing them around in a stroller.

I didn't have to use the stroller like a walker anymore.

But with all that backstory, it was not until just the other day where I felt that renewed freedom again to just WALK with my own 2 feet.

To enjoy the sights and sounds with my boys in tow ;) .

I am SO EXCITED to be looking FORWARD to being out and about by foot again.

Last year, I made it a priority to get out walking as a family.

The years before, we were out trail running all over the place...most often grudgingly...but glad to have done it.

BUT THIS YEAR!?!? It's our CHOICE to fully enjoy being out and exploring like we used to...to connect in with each other, OURSELVES, and of course with nature too.

What have you come full circle into choosing to enjoy for yourself? Or what would you like to bring more joy to?

#thankyouGod #ableandready #gratitude #divinedesign #onestepatatime #beingactive #healthyhabits #celebrate #LoveFirst #betterandbetter #simpleandconsistent #choosewhatyoulove #loveyourchoice

Don't get fat from a bunny bearing chocolate!

It's that time of year again. Can you smell it? The fresh scent of cocoa in the air. It's on all the stacks outs and ends of the aisles in all your favorite stores. CHOCOLATE!!!

I went down the main aisle of the grocery store with my boys and I had to PEEL their attention away from the huge display that ran up the middle of the store. Easter time is here again and a new level of holiday gift-giving has arrived. I'm sure you may have noticed it over the last year, but for EVERY "holiday" or occasion they have come out with all the goodies that you can stuff baskets full of and give as gifts. Excellent marketing idea for those who spent ages trying to get people on board giving gift baskets, but NOW it involves every possible thing being tossed in. Toys, books, cards, crayons, but most of all candy! Sugary treats with their packaging changed for the season (like costumes) and to entice the eyes (at all sight levels) of those who like to buy for the occasion.

At some point, I am thinking that when people think of giving to children, that their first instinct is not always going to be laden with sugar. That the "treat" they think they are giving is a "present" left by the Easter bunny as "it" secretly hopped around all night long leaving these gifts of colourfully foil-wrapped chocolate balls and other goodies for kids to gorge on. And of course, as we think these gifts of chocolate will ONLY be eaten by the kids, then we fool ourselves as we may all be familiar with the taste of the tail of the chocolate bunny and a nibble of the tip of its ear (the easy to snap parts) as our children share with us as they have been taught to do with their toys. Those little nibbles and bites add up to a lot of sugar and a lot of unwanted and unsupportive calories. They also leave you hungry, and craving for more with your thoughts all obscured and your children running around in hyperactive circles till they drop from fatigue and exhaustion. About 25 chocolate chips (not even a handful for me) is easily 100 calories or more. That means an average-sized, well-meaning, chocolate easter bunny's appendages can amount to over 500 calories (2 ears, 1 foot, 1 tail, and the paw....flat chocolate bunny), about 1/3 of required calories for an average woman (doing average exercise). That equals almost a full lunch and snack.....2 MEALS worth of calories.

So pray that your generous, gift-basket-bearing-tonnes-of-sugary-treats friends are heavy on the chocolate giving this year (especially if you have more than one child too). And if you like to stock up a basket for your kids at this time, opt for options like coloring books, fancy parkers, pens, and pencils, fruit, carrots, flowers, seeds to plant in the garden (carrot seeds), gardening tools...the options are endless. Or celebrate this time in a way that does not shove unnecessary, and unsupportive foods into their faces and establishing an expected tradition (habit) of celebrating with sugar, gifts, and treats. Focus on the WHY of what you are celbrating this time of year and share it with your friends and family. We can also celebrate by getting together with family, doing something fun and active together, and enjoying quality time. What better time in our economy to up the standard on quality, instead of showering with quantity.

Have a great weekend and enjoyable holiday!