Why I Walk

My Health

I am extremely lucky. In the past few years, consultants have delivered me some not-good news about my health including possible strokes, heart attacks, cirrhosis of the liver, and liver cancer. Each time I have pointed out that I can walk away from the meeting with this news aware that I have to take better care of myself, which with the NHS in this country is fairly easy for me.

I point out that I see people who are blind and with missing limbs, suffering from dementia and lots more issues, while I am fully mobile (although at the moment still getting back up to speed). When I am out I see people with Zimmer frames and on mobility scooters and with walking sticks, often I think significantly younger than me.

The Effects of Aging

There is a guy I sometimes walk with who I thought was maybe ten or fifteen years older than me, who told me he was born in 1968, so I am not sure what he has been though but at least he walks under his own steam so that is a major positive.

I have friends around the world and a Texan friend who I for some reason believed was around fifty but think she looks mid-thirties ( told me she was seven years older than I thought she was. Today I was out and got chatting with a lady who was gardening.

Cats of Vocal

I was out trying to capture photographs of cats for Cats of Vocal on Facebook and Instagram in a pedestrianized area of Newcastle and told her I was not “casing the joint” in case she thought I was a suspicious person. She told me she used to run, but was now seventy and now spent her time gardening at home and in the local church.

She was very interested in my cat photography and told me there used to be 21 cats in her area and told me the name of one of the cats that I had captured. I told her my name and to search for the Instagram hashtag #CatsofVocal or the Facebook group Cats of Vocal which you can find by clicking on the links.

This is one of the reasons that I now walk on a daily basis, weather permitting.

Alle Tings Hygge, Music and Writing

I also walk because it frees my mind to be inspired for writing such as this (it is 2AM on Easter Friday when I am putting these words down but the initial idea came to me when I was out walking. I do get lots of ideas and find it easy to listen to music using my Google Pixel 3XS phone and headphones. I have some big over-ear headphones which are absolutely fine but I cannot wear my hat with them, so I recently got some earbud ones which I thought were really awkward but when I put them on properly turned out to be remarkably comfortable and sound very good, and don’t fall out like AirPods can because they are secured to your ears.

I also get ideas for the Alle Tings Hygge Facebook group that I share there, sometimes obvious and sometimes not.

Finding New Things

I hate regimentation so have never been a fan of gyms (I tried one and lasted three days and was bored stiff), but on my walks, I visit the local Roman ruins which are part of Hadrian’s Wall, and one of the most amazing things I have seen is the CHAT Trust Phoenix which you can see as the lead image, that I discovered on an alternate route walking to work (although I am now a homeworker).

Conclusion

When I was diagnosed with Liver Cancer the consultant told me that usually when people were referred they were in a very bad way, but physically I was in such good condition that whatever they did I would be a fine specimen to work on. In a letter to my GP, another consultant stated that I looked extremely fit which I think was referring to my actual physique (well either that or they fancied me), but essential walking keeps me fit, gives me ideas, and inspires me.