I grew up living in a house on a huge hill.  And I later ended up buying a house for myself on a huge hill.  

You know what living on huge hills is great for?  A view.

You know what living on huge hills is definitely not great for?  A walk. 

I was in college before I really realized how much I enjoyed the practice of walking.  Yes, I had to walk to and from campus every day but what I really enjoyed was getting in my walking clothes, putting a cassette ‘mix’ tape in my walkman, and walking the indoor track at the fieldhouse.  

Part of it was that I felt safe there – I could be in the midst of lots of people, and still, in essence,  be with myself and my music. 

Part of it was I could go at any time and in any temperature – it didn’t matter if it was dark and wet and cold, I could walk. 

And part of it, a big part if I’m honest, was that it was flat – I didn’t have to worry about hills.  I could walk for hours if I wanted to. 

In the places I lived after college, I always found a way to continue my walking practice by driving to a school’s outdoor track or to a long flat street somewhere relatively close. 

Which ‘worked’ – kind of. 

Except that for a good six months of the year, it was too dark and too cold outside.  I would make do with short, cold walks.  I would complain (loudly) in my head that I STILL hadn’t found movement that I enjoyed as much as walking. And I would patiently wait for the temperature to get to that magic 57 degrees so I could again drive to somewhere hill-less and walk to my heart’s content. 

One of the (many) benefits of marrying Darren – almost 5 years ago!! – was moving somewhere flat.  

Finally, I have the most walkable neighborhood and trails and I don’t have to drive to get somewhere without a hill!!

But while Darren can do a lot of things, he is not able to make it less dark and less cold for those 6 months of the year I mentioned.  

James Clear says, “It doesn’t make sense to continue wanting something if you’re not willing to do what it takes to get it.

If you don’t want to live the lifestyle, then release yourself from the desire. To crave the result but not the process, is to guarantee disappointment.”

It doesn’t make sense to continue wanting something if you’re not willing to do what it takes to get it.

Ding Ding Ding!!

So, last month, after reading and absorbing and contemplating the above quote, I decided I really did have the desire to walk year round and I was tired of feeling disappointed about it.

I googled “indoor tracks near me” and – to my delight and huge surprise – I found an indoor track just 5 minutes from my house, that, with a paid membership, is open from 5 am – 11 pm YEAR ROUND.  The first time I went there in the cold, dark, crack of dawn morning and stepped inside on that familiar flat surface, airpods in place, I literally wanted to cry.  It felt like home.

Ironically, it is almost the time of year where it will be light and warm enough for me to safely walk outside.  But knowing that I solved a problem for myself for the days that it’s not? Knowing that I DO want to live the lifestyle of a walker enough to be willing to do what it takes to get it?  My future self is so pleased.  

I can’t wait to hear about what YOU are willing to do to get what you want, OR from what desire you’re willing to be released.  And if you need some help figuring it out, I’m here for you. 

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