I love my daily walk.
It’s not some big power-walking moment. I’m not speed-walking in matching athleisure while listening to an inspirational podcast. Most days, I’m just walking around the neighborhood in my worn out Adidas, listening to sad music like the main character in a film. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I listen to that “running away in a movie” playlist too. It all depends on my vibe.
I love every minute of it. It clears my head. It makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something. Sometimes it’s the only reason I change out of sweatpants (and even then, sometimes I don’t).
Until it rains, or it’s too hot, or too cold, or the sidewalks are frozen over.
Then suddenly, I’m like, “Maybe I’ll just take care of my mental health… tomorrow.”
(I made the mistake of walking with snowed sidewalks once and fell three times. Three. Times. Don’t even get me started on the number of times I’ve tried walking in the drizzling rain and ended up absolutely drenched five minutes later.)
Weather really does decide whether I’m thriving or spiraling. Give me a 72-degree day with no humidity, and I’m out there strutting like I’m in a shoe commercial. The moment you hit me with a rogue drizzle or lightning strike, I’m back inside, horizontal and debating whether cereal counts as dinner. (It does.)
Don’t even get me started on winter. It’s the worst walking season. Ever. I want to be that girl with the cute scarf and the hot coffee walking peacefully through the snowfall. Turns out, I tried and looked like a grumpy cat after a very unwelcome bath. Now, I’m more like, “I’ll stay in bed with five blankets and wait for April.”
The truth is: I love walking, but I love being comfortable even more. I’m learning that’s okay.
Some days, a walk saves my sanity. Other days, I’m saving myself from mild frostbite and just pacing around the house like a Sims character. Still counts.
So if you’re someone whose fitness routine lives or dies by the weather, welcome. You’re not lazy; you’re just really attached to the weather app.
We walk when we can. We rest when we need. And when it’s raining? We stretch emotionally by forgiving ourselves for not walking today.
Or we just walk to the fridge. That counts too.
