Last Christmas, I was in Jacksonville, Florida, attending my kids’ marching band event.
What made the trip even more special was that some of our longtime friends live there.
Life has a funny way of keeping us busy. Though we were only ever a phone call away, somehow months — sometimes years — slipped by between meaningful conversations. Children, jobs, responsibilities, schedules… life kept moving.
So when we finally sat down together and started chatting and catching up, it felt comforting, familiar, and almost therapeutic.
At one point, my friend asked me, “So what are you up to these days now that you’re an empty nester? What do you like to do?”
I laughed and replied, “I gave up my job completely. Now I walk and watch TV.”
Simple answer. But honestly, there was a lot hidden in those few words.
Walking has kept me going.
What actually brought this entire conversation back to my mind recently was my brother-in-law visiting us. During his stay, he became completely fascinated with the idea of walking 10,000 steps a day. Every evening, he would check his step count, calculate how many more steps he needed, and head back out if he had not met his goal.
Watching him made me smile because I saw a version of myself from a few years ago.
That same excitement.
That same quiet satisfaction of reaching a goal that once seemed impossible.
For years, I was never really into exercise. I always had reasons — mostly excuses. Work kept me busy, life kept me occupied, and somewhere along the way I developed chronic backaches, most likely work-related.
Then came the lockdown.
The world slowed down. There was nowhere to go, not much to do, and for the first time in years, I found myself with time. So I started walking.
Just walking.
At first, it was simply something to do. A way to get out of the house. A break from the heaviness and uncertainty surrounding all of us during the pandemic.
But slowly, those walks became something more.
They became therapy.
They became peace.
They became routine.
They became strength.
And before I knew it, I didn’t want to stop.
Most days now, I hit my goal of 10,000 steps. I even joined a gym, though many times I simply park my car there and walk outside instead.
Fresh air feels better than machines sometimes.
Walking has kept me sane, even though members of my household occasionally question my obsession with it. But I am proud of myself because I know how far I have come.
Not just physically, but mentally too.
So when my friend asked me one morning, “Want to go for a walk?” I was out the door immediately.
That morning, we walked barefoot for an hour.
No rushing. No distractions. Just two old friends walking side by side, catching up on years of life while the world quietly moved around us.
Somewhere along the way, we realized how busy we had been simply raising our children, building our lives, and taking care of everyone else.
And now here we were — older, wiser, a little slower perhaps — finally making time for ourselves and for each other again.
By the time we returned, I felt recharged, refreshed, and lighter somehow.
Ready to tackle the day.
One step at a time.
What’s one simple habit or activity that unexpectedly helped you heal, recharge, or rediscover yourself during a difficult season of life?
Sharing another blog about changing my habits, https://www.rekhasrambling.com/2023/07/pandemic-diaries.html
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