What if you can’t walk?
When I couldn’t...
This past spring and a good part of summer I was unable to take walks. I had a very unpleasant illness which gave me almost daily intense vertigo. The vertigo made me very nauseous and then I would…well you get the idea. I spent most of my days sitting as still as possible.
About 5 weeks in I was feeling pretty depressed. I chalked it up to lack of sleep, “Oh Joy I’m Vomiting Again” Syndrome(not a real thing but it should be), poor nutrition (thanks to OJIVAS) and intense boredom. Finally, after about 7 weeks, I felt confident enough to embark upon my first short walk.
Still scared that I might end up dizzy and puking on the side of the road I took it really slowly. It was so worth it! I listened to the birds, said hello to the neighbor and and looked at every tree(at least those directly in my line of vision). I tried to take everything in. That walk only lasted 15 minutes but it felt like a few glorious hours. I had truly missed the act of walking! Suddenly I realized that I wasn’t feeling depressed anymore. Pretty powerful for something so simple!
Reflecting back on all my missed walks I could only be grateful that I could finally get back to it. I don’t think I had ever realized just how important walking was to me. Then I had a disturbing thought. “What if I could no longer take walks?” That got me to wondering about other reasons that people might not be able to take a stroll or even walk at all.
There are many reasons someone might not want to take a walk:
It’s too slow.
It’s too boring.
It takes too long…e.g. busy schedule.
No one to walk with.
The environment is too noisy…although that doesn’t stop the New Yorkers.
Then there are reasons that someone might not be able to walk:
Maybe where you want to walk is too dangerous for any number of reasons.
What about those individuals that have issues that make walking difficulty or impossible? People with physical difficulties or health issues to name only a couple.
Ironically, it is generally assumed that walking is something that most people can do. One of those early skills that many parents wait excitedly for their children to master. When a child takes it’s first steps it is usually a tremendous moment for everyone. Later on parents can’t help but get caught up in “how old was your child when they started walking” game.
The reality can be different…
My youngest daughter was born with Down Syndrome and walking was one of the skills that was hard for her to develop. What comes so naturally to most children required many, many sessions with a physiotherapist who even had to teach her how to crawl. I don’t think I ever really truly believed that she wouldn’t walk. I am, however, embarrassed to admit that there were times when, as I would watch her struggling and frustrated, I would feel more anxious than proud.
Why was it so important that she walk? What if she couldn’t? What would that mean to her…to us?
The ability to walk would give her personal freedom and less dependence on others…or so I reasoned. Yet there are many who are unable to walk and they manage. It is not just being able to stand on your legs and move that creates a sense of independence and self-reliance.
While I can’t imagine what frustrations individuals might deal with if their personal mobility is a challenge I have nothing but admiration for the people who struggle with such challenges.
All this babbling means…
The truth is that the ability to walk or not does not define us. It is but one aspect of being human in sea of so many other things. I was raised to love taking walks so it is something really important to my body and mind. For someone else their joy comes from sky-diving(cue the screaming) or just sitting and looking out of a window at the world outside.
Ultimately, it is about finding that “something” that makes your day a little bit better when you do it. An activity you can look forward to doing each day…or whenever you can get to it. That act, whatever it may be, that helps you find a moment of peace or a little bit of emotional balance. A way to take a few minutes for you. Life is wonderful but it can be busy and often times confusing and difficult. The only constant is you and the importance you place on yourself.
WOW! That got kind of preachy fast!
In truth, all I know is how walking makes me feel and how sad I would be if I couldn’t do it. However, as I am hoping to live until 103 I should probably come up with a back up plan just in case my legs aren’t on board. Those flying wheelchairs from Wall-E could be a good option.
In case you are wondering, my daughter is twelve now and her default speed is running. So anything is possible.
Have a nice _________ today.
