Boot Talk

I'm listening to Nancy Sinatra singing about boots, as I sit here typing this morning. The fighting beat is helping me gear up for getting out and about over the weekend, to do some serious walking! Great motivating music! I'm just visualising myself listening to this on my ipod while walking and then breaking into a dance up the hill during the instrumental. I like the way she asks the boots if they are ready, so i guess I'll also be talking to my boots as well as dancing up the hills.

I've yet to purchase walking boots, but this action must occur quite soon if i am to "break them in", as advised, before the trek in October. There are a couple of cute pinky ones on Amazon that look good but I've absolutely no idea what I should be looking for in a boot. I read the reviews which all seem to be positive. Whilst it is great to have such choice, I feel that i must consult friends and family who walk and have walking wisdom. This particular pair has a review which stresses how wide the reviewer's feet are and how great these boots are for such wide feet. As my feet are wide these seem a good option, though they do seem rather pricey.


So I'm really gearing up now for this trek. The flights are booked and I'm starting to make contact with others who are going too. I've also started some low level walking over the past two weeks, again as advised by the company which organises the trek. They've sent me an example training programme to follow, which they recommend we start 10 - 14 weeks before the "challenge". I'm now coming to the end of my second week of training and, though I say it myself, am doing splendidly! It's also about 20 weeks until we fly so I'm giving myself a bit of a head start.


These seagulls also think I'm doing splendidly too it seems. Is it me or do they look as if they are approving and nodding as i walk by?

I'm still in the first four weeks of training right now, which comprises 2 x 30 minutes walk and 1 x 2 hour walk a week, plus stretches. Last week I exceeded this as I was on leave from work and this week I've done two 30 minute long walks and one hour long walk. I've still got a two hour walk to do and that will happen today or tomorrow.

For me the challenge has already started! How to stay focused on what I want and need to do whilst working long hours in a stressful job?

At risk of sounding gushy about my two favourite resources, the Unravelling and The Artist's Way, these are currently the lynch pins in my efforts to stay focused. They have helped me make a commitment to myself like never before. Nurturing the self-awareness and creativity that has begun to re-awaken, is now a priority for me. At long last I am taking control of my choices and needs, instead of these being swept away by other demands, while I sleepwalk through life. An example of this is that this is not the first time I've been contemplating buying walking boots, getting fit, getting out, but this time it feels quite different!

In addition I am nolonger trying to fill myself up in ways which are damaging and am determined to nurture and be compassionate towards myself. I am taking responsibility for staying centred and aware of my thoughts, especially that voice of doom and doubt which we will not give "air time" to in this post. Simply a message to that voice that the day "these boots are gonna walk all over you" has arrived and is here to stay!

"Are you ready boots? Start walking!"