We tend to feel that change comes from actively introducing or eliminating ‘things’, by taking up a hobby or by changing our job for example and yes, there are ‘things’ that have changed in the way that I live my life over the past few months. My daughter is happily settled at a university many miles away, my son has passed his driving test and is practically never at home unless he is tired or hungry, the balance between the different areas of my working life has altered, my husband and I suddenly have more ‘us time’.

But additionally, linked to all of the above and also critically linked to my commitment to walk 100km in June for charity, my mindset has changed – and I’m enjoying it.

One of my New Year’s Resolutions for 2022 was to improve my fitness.  I entered the Cotswold Way ultra-challenge as a physical challenge for the year.

I was not unfit, but I had definitely been fitter, a lot fitter, in previous elements of my life.  2020 and 2021 bought us all many challenges in a number of ways, and upon reflection, I felt that I’d allowed myself to blame Covid and all the trials and tribulations of those years for the fact that I was now in my 50s and had little need to maintain an above-average level of fitness. However, I was well aware of the many benefits being fitter would bring.

I didn’t give a second thought to the challenges or changes that this would bring to my mental health.  I purely focussed on the physical challenge ahead of me.

The event is in June 2022.  I pressed ‘apply’ on February 12^th 2022.

Me being me, I then went into organisational mode.  Now that walking 100km was a reality and had an accompanying commitment to raise £1,000 for a charity close to my heart, I needed to start thinking seriously about what was involved. 

Initially, my mind went straight over to what ‘things’ I needed.  This was initially exciting, although the list seemed pretty endless and fairly complicated to a non-walker.  Walking boots yes that’s obvious, but what brands were reputable, did you go for those with ankle support or not, did you go for fully waterproof or not?  Walking poles – were they necessary or unnecessary? The majority of seasoned walkers seemed to suggest that they were not just necessary, but essential. There were many makes, models and different sizes. Some were heavier than others and some folded up smaller than others.  As with everything that I looked at, there were pros and cons to be considered.

Then I started to plan the physical training.  I was under no illusion that this was going to be tricky.  A combination of training was required, plus quite obviously, walking is a slow sport and takes up an awful lot of time. 

I regularly remind myself and my children that ‘for every yes there is a no.’  It become quickly apparent that during the training period up until the 25^th of June, there were going to be quite a few ‘no’s’ that would impact others close to me as well as on myself.

The initial adrenaline rush that followed signing up and announcing to the world that I was going to challenge myself in this way, gradually gave way to a slight concern that this was going to be tough (too tough?) in many ways.

The training started in earnest.  As well as gym classes, yoga classes and longer walks with the dog in the morning, I started to introduce long weekend walks.  

As you can imagine, you don’t get too many takers when you ask if someone would like to join you on a 5-hour walk – especially when they are not allowed to amble along, but have to walk at a pace that is almost a jog!  Again, my mind and the little demon in my head started to play games with me about how much more difficult it would be to walk for hours at a time alone, about the dangers of falling or slipping and not having anyone with me, of getting lost (a distinct possibility with my horrific lack of direction!), and of how ‘bored’ I would be with no-one to talk to.

My mind was busy at the start of my first long walk.  I allowed small things to distract me and tried to keep my mind busy by listening to an audiobook or re-arranging things in my walking vest, using poles, and then not using poles.  I came to a point in the walk where the rain started unexpectedly, I temporarily lost an air pod and had to retrace steps to find it, my phone suddenly died, the poles were annoying me where they were positioned on the walking vest and I was hungry but finding it impossible to eat whilst walking.

I stopped, ate a sandwich, and re-focussed.  The air pods and associated audiobook were put firmly away in a secure pocket.  The walking poles, whilst recommended, were not working for me at that point so they were also attached securely behind me.  I charged my phone in my pocket whilst I started to walk again.

My reward was an amazing rainbow that formed directly in front of me.  A huge rainbow with a visible start and finish and lovely defined colours.  It was gorgeous. 

From that point on, I allowed myself to be within my own mind.  To allow thoughts and ideas to start to take form and then float away.  To notice the little birds hopping along in the bushes next to the freshly ploughed fields.  To take enjoyment from the fact that the sunshine was now encouraging runners, walkers, and cyclists to be out and about.  Despite the fact that as the walk continued my legs started to let me know that they were ready for a rest soon, life remained good, and my mindset was positive.  I enjoyed the silence.  I enjoyed the peace and quiet.  I enjoyed not having to focus too much and being within nature.

These feelings were a reward that I hadn’t seen coming when I entered the challenge and one that I am absolutely relishing.  Sometimes we just need to allow ourselves to ‘be’ and see what little gems that brings us.

Take care,

Angela

www.chrysalis-coaching.co.uk

07867 418568