I worked yesterday, Sunday January 1, 2017 so today Monday January 2nd is my Happy New Years Day. It was 45F here in Louisville, Ky and coated with a fantastic fog. Because it's the celebrated holiday for schools, the post office and those lucky enough to work in a cubical, the morning was quiet. I guess I got out the door about five a.m. and returned about sevenish. I know I didn't look like I was running but believe me, I hurled my 185 lb body up into the air from one foot to the other for seven miles and finished with a mile walk home.
I haven't run for two years. I was taking a medication for my constant anxiety. An anxiety that I had no idea I had until it was gone. I don't remember not having it actually. I needed the medication at the time. After a mere three days at twenty five mg a peace came over me that only the deep sleep of a nap could give.
I recently stopped taking the medication. During the two years I was on it, I was totally content. Not extremely happy, not sad, never worried, just utterly content. The first thing to go was my running. Out for a run, I stopped to blow my nose or for some other odd reason and just started walking. Walking was so fabulous. Instant reward. Enjoying every single step. Serenity. Before the meds, serenity came after the run, and if I'd run long enough. It was great but it took a sense of delayed gratification. Well to heck with that. I fell in love with walking. Before I knew it, I was walking start to finish. I was dressing for walks not runs. I was buying shoes with walking in mind not running.
So walking is a new love in my life. An added love. A gift from taking the medication. There were other gifts.
