Getting up

I read an article about a study of women who sat for 7.5 hours a day. All of them were diabetics and the ones who never got up had their normal glucose levels. Those who got up and walked had readings about a third better and those who simply stood up were not far below that. Evidently it pays to get up out this chair, so that is my new goal. Although I am not diabetic I am going to get up and walk five minutes every half hour.

At first I set the timer on my phone and every half hour, when it went off I got up and walked around my apartment. It is surely not the same as a brisk walk, but I'm not taking brisk walks. My feet are still recovering from the past seven months of almost no walking. This seems like it might be a good way to start again. At the very worst I am moving more than I was.

Five minutes goes quickly. I have discovered that I am surrounded by things that please me! As I walk around this apartment my senses are filled with things that I love. Often on three levels at a time. The pictures on the walls were each carefully hand picked by me. The Christmas cards hanging on the door remind me of friends, the potted plant blooming in a cheerful green bouquet was rescued out from under a table in the grocery store, my bedspread, Bearnard and his friends, my hobby all by itself takes up three separate layers on my counter top. Even the top of my kitchen cupboards sport specially chosen pieces of art work that I cherish.

This is turning out to be an appreciation walk, one that reminds me of all the blessings in my life and raises my spirits as well as my body.

And if my interest in all these things ebbs, there is still the television.  I figure if I walk every half hour for eight hours I will have logged in 85 relatively painless minutes!