I have heard it said that, to be healthy, it would benefit a person to walk 10,000 steps a day.
I decided that was too much for me. It’s not that I am a sedentary person. In fact, it’s hard to keep me down. However, my smartphone app only records when I have it on my body, so it misses a lot of steps. And I have never been able to figure out how to work my Fit Bit. Therefore, I made 5,000 steps my daily goal.
One day I was talking with a woman who looked to be obviously out of shape. She said she tracks her steps too, I asked her what her daily goal is and she said it was 200 steps. I hoped my surprise didn’t show. I find it hard to believe that an able-bodied person can go through a day’s activities on that small number of steps. I use that many just fixing breakfast. Maybe she doesn’t keep her smartphone on her all of the time.
So, anyway, I decided that 5,000 steps would be an acceptable daily goal. Sometimes it’s easy--like when I’m working outside in the summer. Sometimes it’s hard--like in the winter, when inclement weather keeps me stuck inside.
I usually walk down and up Sunny Lane 1-1/2 times. But, even though I go out when it’s cold, there are times when it is not advisable to do that (inclement weather). Walking the lane gives me 2,000-plus steps. I must admit, though, that I put on a lot of steps walking aimlessly around the house--looking for things, wondering what I went into the room to get.
But, if Sweetheart and I go to the dance and I do some line dancing, my total can shoot up to 8,000 in no time.
Sometimes, as the day is winding down, I discover that I am 1,000 or even 2,000 steps behind my goal. So, at 9:00 I do some walking in place or some kickboxing to get caught up. Other times, I just don’t feel like it and plop down on the couch and watch television.
Whether I reach my goal or I don’t, I’m glad I have one. A person should have a goal in life. Missing once in a while won’t hurt anything in the great scheme of things, though. And I can always start over again the next day.
Dorothy is the author of two books—“Miles and Miracles” and “Getting It All Together “. You can purchase a book or send a comment by emailing her at dorothybutzknight@gmail.com
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