Rainy with a Chance of Walking

In my most recent post, I wrote about how my walks were in May and was thinking that we were probably headed into the dry, hot summer I've been dreading. That's not how the month of June has been playing out, though.

June kicked off for me with a concert by our wonderful Mountain Home Symphony on the afternoon of June 1. It was a blazing hot afternoon when I stepped out of the coolness of the Vada Sheid auditorium into a "sauna," a normal summer afternoon in Arkansas. I didn't walk that day because I couldn't bear the heat.

The next day I was back out there, determined to walk in the mornings when it wasn't cool but it was better than the evenings. I've attached some pictures of the beautiful days we had the first week of June. I think we had some showers here and there, but we had some nice days, too. I laughed at the "Happy Dog" art exhibit on the trail because someone had put a stick in his mouth, as you'll see in one of the pictures I took.

The rain intensified, and we had 3-4 inches over this last weekend. You can see in the pictures how high the water was on the trails; debris and tree branches were on the bridges over Dodd Creek. I still managed to get a walk in, every day but Sunday, June 15. The rain just never let up enough to get out there.

Yesterday morning, parts of the trail were completely covered in water, and you can tell by the way the grass is flattened how far out of its banks the creek was. It was still misting rain when I went yesterday; I knew it would get hot once it stopped raining. I was right; it was unbearable before my walk was over.

This morning was much better, though; 72 degrees when I started at 9:00. I walked as far as the "sitting dog" artwork today, which happened to be .86 of a mile. This was my turning around place. I'm still walking in the range of 1.5 miles daily, but occasionally I have good day where my back doesn't hurt, and my stamina holds out. I walked 1.72 miles total today without even meaning to. I praise the Lord for giving me not only the determination to continue my daily walks, but the physical strength to accomplish what He put in my heart to do. 

I am beyond blessed! I've included some pictures and tried to caption them so you know what they are. I've even put in a quick picture of my front porch refresh I'm working on. (It's not finished yet). I took this Sunday evening coming home from my daughter's in the rain. It had rained so much yesterday that some roads were impassable, but I found a way home.

Hope this is encouraging to someone who might need it. I know there have been many times I was grasping for something to lift my spirit. 

Be blessed, friends!

"I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 NLT

One Step at a Time

This post is just a look at what I saw and experienced on the trails on several days in late May; mostly so I can see this in a year or two or five and see how I was doing in May of 2025.

The last few weeks have been full of ups and downs, both in the weather and in my emotional state. The exercise and sunshine have done me good and yet I still have bouts of feeling almost depressed. I have managed to push through, but it has been tough at times. I think the key for me has been to keep going whether I feel like it or not. I'm not saying this is the answer, I'm just saying what has been my experience. I truly believe that God put the desire in me to do a daily walk for my health, and HE has given me the physical strength to do it. It's the only explanation, because I'm by nature a couch potato.

Before you start to tell me that in a state of depression a person sometimes is literally too tired to do anything, I know. I have been that person. That has been addressed in some of my earlier blogposts when I was just coming out of depression. It's a real thing, and I'm posting because God has brought me out of that state. I took antidepressants for many years and also had counseling. If you are suffering with depression, I get it. It is a real battle. Hang in there and keep on going. Pray, and God will help you.  

I've mostly been walking the path which goes under the bypass and eventually over to a small lake. I had not been going that far, though, until very recently. A couple of weeks ago I finally made it all the way to the lake, and it was 2.33 miles round trip (I turn around at some point when I walk this path; most times I don't go nearly this far before I turn around).

Love Birds

Small lake

The next day I thought I might be ready to do the "through the woods" trail (not really woods, but a substantial stand of mature trees), which is longer, so I set off for it by going up through the part of the campus where all the buildings are first and entering the woods through the entrance off Hwy. 62. I've included some pictures mixed in with the text. 

Entering the "woods"

Very hilly woods trail

This trail is a LOT of hills, up and down, both ways. According to the report from my watch, I climbed up and down 70 feet in elevation on this day. I wasn't really ready for this walk; it was an exhausting 1.76 miles.

I took pictures most days to keep track of how high the creek still was, because I'm a nerd and that fascinates me. On the May 21st walk, the creek was very robust, but the video won't post to the blog. Here is a photo of how it looked on May 25; still high.

Dodd Creek

I'm comfortably (somewhat) walking 1.5 miles a day as of the last couple of weeks. Occasionally I'll walk 1.6 or 1.7, but I'm not ready to commit to doing more than 1.5 for the next little while. I do intend to try the more elevated path again when I'm more conditioned to my current walking distance. In my defense, 1.5 miles a day is about 3 or 4 times what I used to walk in a day.

The problem now is, it is summer, darn it, which is not my favorite at all! I'm bathed in sweat no matter if I walk early morning or wait until almost sunset. I hate sweating, which is why I hate summer and am counting the days until fall. Only 2 weeks until the longest day, then we start getting shorter (and eventually cooler) days again, finally!

I have tried morning and evening, and I will try to walk in the morning whenever possible. It is much hotter and more humid in the evenings, and the mosquitoes have me on their menu as their favorite appetizer as sunset approaches.

So, that is how it is going. I'm trying to learn contentment, so I can enjoy all the seasons whether they are my favorite or not. I'm aiming for what Paul said: "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." Philippians 4:11 NASB. 

Notice I said "trying." I have not achieved it, but I want to be content. It's a lifelong process. Maybe this is not an entirely encouraging post; maybe it's more of a progress report. I'm improving, slowly. One step at a time.

Blessings, my friends.

The Art Trail

It was 69 degrees when I hit the trail this morning at about 7:30. The sun was shining, even though clouds were trying to cover it up, and it looked like it was going to be a nice day. 

I missed walking yesterday, due first to rain and then thunderstorms. I'm not afraid of rain, but I'm not going to chance being struck by lightning. So, I was determined to get out there today. I decided today I would take pictures of the artwork along the trail. I've posted some of them, but today I hoped to get them all, and I did, except for one that was too far off the trail to get a good picture. They are at the end of the blog and posted with the text on Facebook. 

It took a little longer to get to the end of the trail because I was stopping here and there to take a quick photo along the way, but today I got there! From where I generally start, by the north end of the parking lots off South College, I discovered that it is 1.1 miles to the little park and small lake, and apparently, the end of the trail. Then, I turn around and go back the way I came. There is another path that splits off the main one and seems to go to the other side of the lake. I will try that path next time.

There are other trails to take, too. I can walk up around the college buildings and through a wooded area as an alternative walking path. Getting to the end of the art trail was a goal for me, though.

Today, a new record for me: 2.2 miles! I was not even out of breath. 

As I have said before, I'm writing this to encourage others and to give the glory to God!  I'm NOT trying to brag on myself. If He had not enabled me, I would not have been able to start this walking journey. In fact, He even put the determination in me to do this! Back in March, when I was so defeated because I couldn't walk more than maybe a quarter mile without sitting down due to back spasms, something shifted in my thought processes. I suddenly knew that I had to change my habits of vegging out in my recliner if I had any hopes of retaining my mobility and independence as I age.

The clouds finally won and now we are expecting strong thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. I really do hate Spring because of the possibility of tornados. I'm praying we all stay safe today.

As promised, the pictures are posted here. I tried to caption them all, on Facebook, at least. It's harder and more time-consuming on Blogspot.

Be blessed, my friends!

"Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is the sustainer of my soul." Psalm 54:4 NASB*

*Maybe the psalmist didn't have getting help from God to take care of his health better, but I think the Lord cares about my health, and He does help me.

Early Walking is Nice

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would address walking, or any kind of outdoor activity at all, but here we are.

All my life I have been a night owl. Even through the years and circumstances that caused me to have to get up early, I did it by necessity, not because I enjoyed it. I would say that is still true today, with one observation: early morning can have its benefits.

Last week I got up early a few days to get my grandkids to school and decided I would walk right after I dropped them off, since I was up anyway. I discovered (or perhaps, just remembered...I have actually been up before 7:00 am in my 70 years), that it is quite lovely outside on a spring morning. 

It is May, and the "beast of scorching heat" that comes upon this area in the summer is still slumbering, but right now the mornings are actually nice. I found that walking about 8:00 am was perfect weather, since I prefer it to be on the cooler side. I thoroughly enjoyed my morning walks last week. My thoughts were, "well, I'll walk in the mornings this week because I'm already up, but next week I'm sleeping in!"

This morning I woke up at 6:20. Yes, in the A.M.

Normally I'd be thinking "seriously? I can sleep as late as I want, and I wake up early?" Instead, my first thought was "I should check the weather and go ahead and walk if it's not raining."

What?!?

So I did just that. I saw on the weather app that we could have showers off and on all day, with a greater chance in the afternoon. My old self would have rejoiced that I might get out of walking, but this "loves to walk" version is planning ways to get my walk in around the weather.

I am not writing this to brag. I'm not "patting myself on the back" for finally doing what I should have been doing all along. I'm writing it to encourage someone out there that whatever it is that you know deep down that you want and need to do, you can do it. 

Look, if I, a lifelong couch potato and overall sedentary lifestyle advocate can start going on a daily walk at the age of 70, anything is possible. I wouldn't have believed it 3 months ago. But now, I know I can not only do what I need to do for my health, I actually enjoy it and look forward to it.

This isn't just about walking. This is a "fill in the blank" encouragement. Only YOU know what it is that you wish you could do, but you think you can't. You CAN. 

It was 7:34 am when I hit the trail this morning, and the threat of rain was looming all around, as the photos I attached will show. I walked 1.5 miles and wasn't even really tired, but I did want some coffee. 

Oh, and I'm still a night owl at heart. I'm not saying I will always walk before 8 am.  But I can and will get up early when the need arises.

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 NASB

Looking Up When Down

I try to be positive online, but it's not been easy lately. Life can sometimes get you down in spite of your best intentions to rise above it. I was really down this afternoon when I went for my daily walk on the ASU campus trails. I love walking there. I was hoping that some exercise and sunshine would lift my mood.

Sometimes to be an encourager, I have found I have to share little, seemingly trivial things along the way. I have to look for the good, the glimpses of God at work to boost my dark mood. In sharing how I have found light in the low places, it is my hope that someone will read this and be uplifted.

I can't elaborate, but currently there are things out of my control that have me upset. On my walk, I listened to an encouraging podcast by a Christian author, and I kept walking after it was over, praying about the issue that has me down.

It's not solved yet, but I have no doubt that God will work it all out. He always has my back. He doesn't always act as quickly as I would like, and sometimes the answer is different than expected, but He will take care of me; I am sure of it.

Meanwhile, I did find some things on my walk to be happy about. 

First, the scenery was beautiful. Not only the trees and landscaping, but there are art sculptures along the trail.  The sun was peeking through the clouds, and for some reason I found this encouraging. I've added some photos of these.

Secondly, I also enjoyed that the creek was merrily running along, vibrant and full from the recent rains we have had. Something about the sight and sound of a babbling brook is so therapeutic to me.

Finally, on my way back to the car, after I had turned around (because I still haven't gone to the end of the art trail. I'm thinking it's maybe at least 2 miles one way?) I was passing a couple with the most adorable puppy. He looked kind of like a cocker spaniel. He was so cute! I actually asked to pet him, which they agreed to, and he was very happy about that. This little dog, probably under a year old, was so sweet and friendly. It made me smile in spite of my troubles.

Bonus: I walked 1.71 miles, and I realized as I neared the car that my back didn't hurt! Usually when I have attempted to walk more than 1.25 miles, I start having spasms in my mid-back and have to sit down. This didn't happen on this walk!

God has my situation. I know He will take care of me. And He gave me some things to smile about as I walked along talking to Him about it all.

"Blessed be the Lord, Because He has heard the sound of my pleading. The Lord is my strength and my shield; 
My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; 
Therefore, my heart triumphs, And with my song I shall thank Him."

Psalm 28:6-7

Fun Times with Family

Consider this post the "prequel" to the one I did on April 6. This is the backstory to how I ended up walking every day on the ASUMH campus.

In March, I met my youngest and his wife in Bentonville to spend a few days together. I hadn't seen them in person in almost 2 years, so it was time. We had a lovely time! We stayed in a vacation rental which was walking distance from downtown in one direction and Crystal Bridges in another. Coming out of a rather sedentary wintertime, I was not prepared for so much walking. This is what led to the discussions about smartwatches during some of our conversations. 

It also led to some text-messaging among my three children, who went together to buy me the watch I had settled upon after I got back home. I do have the best kids. They want me to be healthy and happy, and I love them for it.

In my previous post I talked about how I was having back spasms and tiring easily, causing me to have to sit down periodically during our little vacay in Bentonville. This was very distressing to me, and as I said before, I knew changes would have to be made.

Well, changes have been made. I have walked every day but 2 since March 22. The reason I didn't walk on those 2 days was that it was raining and we were under a tornado watch. (Have I mentioned I hate spring because of tornados?) Thankfully, we were spared here in my town, but I wasn't going to go out during a thunderstorm anyway.

I started out walking a 1/2 mile, and it was all I could do. Sedentary lifestyle, remember? That has changed. Within 3 weeks I was up to a mile, minimum. As of this week, my 5th week of daily walks, I can walk 1 1/3 mile easily. No back spasms or pain. I'm adding a little bit each week, with the ability to do at least 2 miles my beginning goal. 

The fact that I'm not out of breath after 1.3 miles is astonishing to me, the former couch potato. LOL!

I'm rejoicing that I have found joy in a daily walk. I hate to admit it, but the sunshine may be doing some good, in addition to the exercise. I'm not as sad as I have been.

Anyway, here are a few pictures of our trip to Bentonville. I loved seeing Jeff & Alli and going to Crystal Bridges again; I've lost count how many times we've been there together. 

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!" Philippians 4:4 NASB

 

My Journey to a Healthy Mindset

Here it is April, and I'm writing my first blog post for 2025. This is a new low, even for me. Hopefully, that is changing.

I had made an "attempt" in March to start walking again as my main form of exercise, mostly due to the fact that I was driving to Bentonville to spend a few days with my youngest son and his wife, who were driving up from Houston for their Spring Break. I knew we would do a lot of walking, and I knew I was definitely NOT ready for it.

I will write about that trip in my next post. Today, I am inspired to share about my struggle to becoming healthier. 

So, did my three days of walking 15 minutes each time make a difference so I could keep up with my family as we explored Crystal Bridges? Not in the slightest. I was often having to catch my breath, and quite a few times I experienced painful back spasms that forced me to sit down for a bit.

This caused me to start thinking about my walking for exercise before. I really hadn't done it consistently for years. I may not have done it consistently ever before. When I first moved 3 1/2 years ago to where I live today, I bought a cheap smart watch, that was only slightly smart. It didn't track my steps very well at all. I basically had to be swinging my arm at my side for it to even think about counting steps, and it didn't bother if I walked in Walmart pushing a shopping cart, which I did in cold or rainy weather. It didn't show the distance I walked at all, so I never knew what kind of progress I was making.

Naturally, I gave up. At my best I never walked more than 3 times a week, and the slightest chill in the air or any amount of moisture falling from the sky was enough for me to excuse myself from even trying.

I began to realize that I would have to get better at being active if I wanted to keep my mobility and my independence as I get older. So, when I was with my family members during their Spring Break, I started shopping online for a better smart watch. They both had good smart watches that I really liked. They weren't as expensive as Apple watches but were a good brand, and much higher quality than the one I had before. 

Long story short: I found out when I got home that conversations were held among all my children, some texting was going on in front of my face while I was in the same room with my son while we were in Bentonville and I never knew it. (Texting is sneaky like that!) They went together and bought me a new smart watch for an early Mothers' Day present. I have the best kids!

Since March 22, when my daughter brought my new watch to me, I have walked every day but one. I had an 11-day streak until the first tornado warned day earlier this week. Something is different in me; I am excited about going for a walk every day. I'm no longer content doing just enough to get by or walking 3 times a week to say I've done it and can check it off. I can't explain it, but I have a new determination to improve my mobility and retain it for as long as I can.

This new watch tells me how far I have walked, what my heart rate is, and much more. I have walked about a mile at day most days. One day, I went 1.5 miles because I went on a path that was that long with no other path veering off toward my car as an escape route! I will walk that path again when my endurance is a little better.

Here are some pictures I took on some of my walks. I have grown to love the ASUMH campus walking trails. The scenery is beautiful and varied enough to provide many different paths.

I'm on a journey to a healthy mindset.