While Walking My Dogs

I don’t know about you, but I’m always amazed at how fast time seems to fly.  I blink and another month or year has passed.

Mindy and I were walking the other day and I remarked to her (don’t judge me for having a conversation with my dog-she’s a great listener) that in a year I didn’t want to say to myself, “I really should… [insert task]”.  There are some projects/tasks that I’d really like to be done with.  I wondered why these particular tasks stayed on my ToDo list for such a long time and I discovered it’s because that’s the only action I take with them:  putting them on my ToDo list.  They’re all long term projects that require daily effort.  And I’m not putting in the daily effort.

That led me to thinking about the simple, yet powerful benefits of Daily.

I’m great with the discipline of Daily at the beginning of a journey when everything is fresh and exciting.  About day 7, however, I start to wane and get bored.  A friend of my commented on my #onemileadayfor50days challenge saying that it should be easy because I always walk at least a mile with my dogs.  I do always walk at least a mile, but I don’t do it every.single.day.  And never for 50 days straight.  This is my challenge, not only with walking, but in all aspects of my life.

I need to develop the same attitude that Mindy, my dog, has towards her daily walk and meals.  She acts as though this is the first walk she’s ever been on or the first meal she’s ever eaten and she’s over the moon with excitement.  Every time we leave the house or I fill her bowl with kibble, she’s like this.  She eats the same kibble and we walk the same route, sniff the same lawns/trees/bushes/flowers, see the same doggie friends and she brings the same level of excitement each time.  The other attitude she has is one of, “I GET to do this again?”  Now, I know she’s a dog, but there’s lots to be learned.

Great things can happen when you commit to a daily discipline:  you become healthy and fit, you finish projects, your faith deepens, you master skills, you accomplish your goals.  Daily attention to these areas requires commitment and consistency, faith in the process, a bit of humbleness and a willingness to settle in for however long it takes to complete.

Just my thoughts as I keep moving, daily, towards 50.

Until tomorrow,

“Ok, I only understood two words: walk and kibble.  And I’m all ears.”

I came across this quote by Katharine Hepburn the other day.

“You can’t just be talented… You also have to become necessary to people, by working hard and well and bringing more than your bones and your skin to the project.  Don’t just show up.  Transform the work, yourself and everybody around you.  Be needed.  Be interesting.  Be something no one else can be… and consistently.”

As I’ve been thinking through performing CPR on my blog over the next 50 days, I wanted to make sure that what I offer up every time I post is of value, first to you dear reader, but then to me as well.  Blogging takes time and effort and I want my posts to be worth your time.  I think this quote is a good measuring tool to use each time I start typing.  It speaks to the idea of going the extra mile, being willing to do the extra not necessarily for attention, but because of the value that will be added and the transformation that might take place.

I’m excited about this next season… to see the changes that will undoubtedly happen and for the new paths that might emerge.  I’ll be sharing some of my ideas in upcoming blog posts and it is my sincere hope that you’ll join me in this uncharted journey.

What are the areas of your life where you feel like you’re on an uncharted journey?  And how do you feel about it?  I’d love to hear from you.

Until tomorrow,

“We’ll go on uncharted journeys with you every.day.of.the.week.”

Day 1

As the title of my blog suggests, I like to walk and I like to walk with dogs.  Mindy and I get our 10,000 steps in each day (20,000 for her) walking around our neighborhood.  I’ve lived and walked in this neighborhood for 28 years and enjoy meeting other walkers and their dogs each day.  As the years have passed we’ve mourned the loss of our faithful canine companions, rejoiced with the excited energy of new puppies and welcomed amazing rescues to their forever homes.

About 3 weeks ago, Mike, my husband, asked if I would be willing to walk 50 miles as a fundraiser for Youth for Christ, the organization he works for.

Now I’ve walked 26.2 miles twice (not at the same time ;-)) but I’ve never walked 50 miles so my answer was, “I don’t think so.”  Then I asked, “Would I have to walk these miles all at the same time?”  He said, “no”.  So I suggested that I would be willing to walk one mile each day for 50 days.   I had been searching for something to mark the approach of my 50th birthday and this felt perfect because it is also a way to give back to an organization that helps so many kids.  Here’s what I wrote on my fundraising page:

“Hi, I’m Grace Edwards and I’m walking 50 miles to raise money to support the ministries of Youth for Christ, Sacramento.  I will be walking one mile each day for the 50 days leading up to my 50^th birthday.  As I approach my personal 50 mile-marker, I’m reminded of all I have to be thankful for and want to be able to finish this 50-mile challenge by giving back to an organization that pours out love and hope every day to kids.  My goal is to raise $50 per mile.

I’ve been personally involved with YFC for over 25 years and wholeheartedly support their mission.  YFC reaches young people everywhere, working together with the local church and other likeminded partners to raise up lifelong followers of Jesus who lead by their godliness in lifestyle, devotion to the Word of God and prayer, passion for sharing the love of Christ and commitment to social involvement.  YFC works in partnership with local churches, law enforcement agencies, city governments and school districts to provide safe environments for kids to have fun, and encourages them to grow through discipline and service.”

Mindy and I will walk a mile each and every day for 50 days and along the way we’ll share stories from the staff and kids of YFC.  I would be very grateful if you would consider supporting us through a tax deductible donation to YFC.  This link will take you directly to my fundraising page.

Mindy and I completed our first mile this morning and we were joined by Charlie and Sugar Bear (not in the picture) .

They loved sniffing everything, meeting other walkers along the way and best of all, settling in for some very satisfying naps when we got home.

While YFC works with kids in many locations, the one I want to tell you about today is the Collings Teen Center in West Sacramento.  Here is a story highlighting the need:

Jenny stood at the food counter of the Collings Teen Center, waiting in line with other students for their free Late Lunch meal. Her engaging smile and confident maturity made Jenny a favorite of the teen center staff. But day after day, she politely asked that her meals be wrapped to go.
In time, Jenny shared that she was actually taking the food to her four siblings. All five children were living with their mother in a motel room on West Capitol Avenue, a nearby corridor long known for its cheap motels, drug trafficking, and prostitution. The family has been forced to move several times, and Jenny is largely responsible for caring for the other children.
Stories like this are played out every day all over West Sacramento as young people are battling for a solid foothold – both in their current circumstances, and in their unfolding futures.

It breaks my heart to think that kids have to deal with circumstances such as these, but I’m so grateful that YFC provides a safe place to help alleviate some of their stress.

Until tomorrow,

“Can I just say this is the best idea EVER.”