An aging body is not for sissies! With the sudden glorious weather, I felt inspired to get off the elliptical walker indoors and take a nice walk around my condo area. Full sun from early morning until sunset, low humidity, and temperatures in the high seventies to low eighties, these days are meant for enjoyment.

Tuesday I defied Satan and his whispers in my mind telling me my hips, back, and feet could not handle walking for any distance. Putting on my walking shoes, I stepped out on faith. Each time I reached the beginning point of the five loops I made during a forty minute span I could hear Karen Abercrombie as Miss Clara in War Room saying “Oh, devil, you just got your butt kicked!”

I felt fantastic when I concluded my walk, but on Wednesday morning, my hip joints didn’t want to move! Of course, the best thing to do with muscle soreness is to move, and I had plenty of that going on. Finally, after lunch, I decided to defy the devil again and take another walk. This time four loops in thirty minutes. On Tuesday I was in full fat burning mode, but yesterday I was in cardio mode most of the time. Since I take medication to keep my heart rate low, getting into cardio is a major workout for me. I prefer to be in the fat burning, but have difficulty in maintaining.

The walks have been therapeutic for me. I met two new neighbors who moved in this year and shared brief conversations along the way with those I’m already acquainted with. This move has been wonderful for me as I feel so safe. In my old neighborhood, walking wouldn’t have been safe without staying on my own block. I’ve met more people here than I knew in the 33 plus years I lived in my old neighborhood.

As of this morning, I’m a little stiff but muscles are much better. I’m planning to walk again today. All is quiet this morning as I write this at 7:30 am. It is 53 degrees outside. I may slip on a light sweater and walk soon. Aging bodies aren’t for sissies, but they aren’t useless either. Attitude makes a difference and believing that with Christ you can do what you set your mind to achieve. Happy walking, my senior friends!