This morning I officially begin my 2017 "Walk in the Woods." I will be taking a tromp around Lake Geode and, perhaps, dipping my trusty kayak in for a paddle when I'm done walking. I say "perhaps" because I seem to have difficulty lately staying on task....my mind wanders....my body follows. LOL And so it has been with setting my goals for this years walk.
I turn 70 in January. Initially I planned to do a stretch of the Camino de Santiago to mark it. But, as I began preparing, I soon discovered my creaky knees protested - LOUDLY - and it seemed that was probably too daunting a goal for this year. I think it will help if I take some weight off my ageing frame so:
Goal one for the coming year is a 7.0 pound weigh loss each month until I reach whatever seems real. I actually am not certain what that "number" will be, I'll know when I get there! But I'm pretty sure it will take me until my actual birthday! (Jan 11), or, perhaps, even Valentine's Day, or Easter! . :-)
Goal two is to spend at least 70 minutes a day for the rest of my life ACTIVE. Now that may mean walking, biking, swimming, dancing....or who knows what activities I may undertake?!?! I begin today by walking 70 minutes at the lake. Speed is not a factor!
Goal three is to exercise my mind. I commit to yogo/ reading/poetry/writing/and "gaming" at least 70 minutes a day. This one should be easy. I probably already do this. I commit though to stretching by reading more non fiction and writing more poetry!
Goal four is to "retreat from the world" at last once a week. This might mean spending the entire day in my treehouse, reflection time at the Abbey on the Mississippi, maybe taking a short trip alone? Or simply building a bonfire and watching until the embers die. I' m certain that I will be very creative in designing my various "retreats. At a minimum they will involved NO INTERNET.
Goal five is to explore another continent - Australia and New Zealand in Jan-March!
Goal six is to experiment with cooking - new dish every week and have more dinner parties! (well, maybe not a party every week, but at least once a month.
So, is six goals enough for turning 70? Hmmmm. It seems it should be SEVEN, doesn't it? Maybe, or maybe I'll add another as the year marches on.......maybe walking the Camino next year?
Namaste,
Nancy
