Opus 2021-297: On the Street: Walking Young

About a month ago I fell and messed up my knee.  I hobbled around for a few weeks before having it x-rayed.  Nothing is broken but I don’t heal as fast as I used to when I was younger.

Today I was able to walk young.  What do I mean by that?  I was able to walk with vigor.  There was no shuffling or slowing down.  It was a good feeling.  I still need to be careful not to step in a hole or lean wrong but I am on my way to healing.

Why do I bother with this?  You really were not concerned about my mobility.  I would ask you to get concerned about your own.  It troubles me to see people riding the electric shopping carts or the folks who can’t seem to stand up straight and would fall if they didn’t have a shopping cart to lean on.  At least they are out and around.  It is possible they are doing the best they can.  What really makes me question is the car that sits and idles in the parking lot for five minutes so they can get a parking space close to the door.  Again, I don’t know their situations but I wonder.

One of the habits I developed when I was still teaching was to park at the far end of the lot and during the day walk down stairs to the office instead of calling or sending a student.  We have what we call “the warehouse” up the hill on our property.  I always walk up unless I am after something too bulky to carry.  My wife always drives.  Guess who is in better condition.  I would encourage everyone to get started on mobility if you are not on that page already.  I can’t get specific but I think people could do more even if it means parking five stalls down in the parking lot.  Start somewhere and build up.  I remember years ago when I started getting serious about walking.  I started with a quarter mile on level ground.  I didn’t even get half way before my legs were screaming at my like it was the Inquisition.  Gradually I extended that and eventually got to about two miles with no leg complaints.  

Get out and move.  Walk.  Start small, but start.  It won’t make my life any better.  I will never know.  You will forget to thank me.  Your world will get better.

homo unius libri