Special Mom’s blog

Today morning I went to the gym. Not to use any equipment but to use the indoor walkway. It was 38 degree Fahrenheit outside and I thought walking inside would be best. As I started walking, a lady maybe around my age or a bit older or younger started walking faster than me and was lapping me. I tried to join her pace, but soon found out that it was not possible. A few minutes later, I saw her leaving the gym.

After ten or fifteen minutes, I met an old couple. This is the second time, I am meeting them. The husband is 89 years old and the wife a few years younger than him. I had talked to them the first time a few months back, and they immediately recognized me and we said a few words and I continued my walk. A couple of laps later, I asked the wife as I met, how many laps do they make. She said, we make 8 laps. Eight laps makes a mile! The husband told me, “oh you are walking too fast, for us to catch up with”, I smiled and said, I am way too young and I need to walk faster.

We all walk at different pace is what I found out. The first lady made quick laps and exited. I had a goal of two miles in my mind and I could not keep up with her. If I had, I would not have completed my goal for today, since I would have been tired within a mile of my walk. I cannot walk slowly with old couple, that too would have caused my goal not to be completed. Life is similar. We cannot compare ourselves to other people lives. We all are going for a walk at our own pace and trying to copy others may just not be healthy. The only point is, we need to know what our pace is and keep pacing ourselves within our capability.

I enjoy talking to complete strangers on my walks. In fact, a “hello or a hi” really makes the day for people who are old. Kids love the attention and sometimes their shy faces makes my day. Even if my boy is around, I do not shy myself from saying a “hello or hi”. I was really glad and surprised when this old couple recognized me today. In fact the last time, I had taken a picture to send it to my Mom. Really love people who have spent more than fifty married years together. Holding one’s hand and making a mile walk at this age is not something you take it for granted. By the way their pace was perfect and they enjoyed watching the kids playing basketball below. The smile on their face was something that really kept my day going.