Be Yourself
After the incident with the Unpleasant Pheasant, I didn’t do much walking for several weeks. Then when I started walking again, my balance and gait were off. I hit a patch of slick mud and went down, hurting myself in the same way I had during the pheasant incident. I hobbled home, scared and disappointed – I didn’t want to be afraid of going for a walk.
My friend advised me to get some walking poles. She thought it would give me security as I started walking again. I resisted at first. I wasn’t trekking – I was just walking around the neighborhood, which is a 55-and-older RV park. I would look stupid. And indeed, when I finally broke down and got some, my neighbors, most of whom I did not know, proceeded to give me crap about walking with poles. Pretty much every day, some old guy – it was always an old guy – would yell something at me about “You’re not in the Himalayas!” or “The snow is over that way, in the mountains!” One guy said disgustedly to his wife “I don’t know what she’s trying to prove with those.”
But I kept walking. I hated people yelling at me, but I hated the thought of being sedentary even more.
And then something happened. I started noticing other people in the park, people I had never seen out walking before, walking with poles. A few stopped to ask me about mine. Curt, my neighbor with a Border Collie, compared his new carbon-fiber poles to mine, which are aluminum.
Me choosing to walk with poles apparently inspired several other people to walk with poles. It was suddenly ok. This was not my intended outcome, but it pleased me immensely.
Just by being myself and doing my thing, I gave my neighbors permission to act similarly. As A Course in Miracles says in my favorite quote “Everyone teaches, and teaches all the time.”
What are we going to teach this week?
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Suebob's Red Stapler 
My mom walked with poles after a stroke after she “graduated” from a walker; light, easier to walk with than canes, and yes, you’re not mountain-climbing, but anyone who needs a bit of extra support on occasion should be able to have that support without fear of looking ridiculous! Good work. 🙂
And good for your mom for getting back to walking!
I have been using the adjustable hiking poles for a couple of months, sometimes just one, but I feel so much more secure, put some ear bobs and music and zone out! We do not want to break any bones, keep on truckin…
On Thu, Feb 25, 2021, 11:13 AM Suebob’s Red Stapler wrote:
> Suebob posted: ” One of my favorite places to walk – Ventura Harbor After > the incident with the Unpleasant Pheasant, I didn’t do much walking for > several weeks. Then when I started walking again, my balance and gait were > off. I hit a patch of slick mud and went down, ” >
You’ve always been so active, Annie! Keep after it!
Love it my friend. Try Tai chi for balance issues, if you can!
On Thu, Feb 25, 2021 at 8:13 AM Suebob’s Red Stapler wrote:
> Suebob posted: ” One of my favorite places to walk – Ventura Harbor After > the incident with the Unpleasant Pheasant, I didn’t do much walking for > several weeks. Then when I started walking again, my balance and gait were > off. I hit a patch of slick mud and went down, ” >
Thanks for reminding me about Tai Chi, Gail. I used to do Tai Chi Chih, a simpliefied form, and yesterday I got outside and did the whole form by the creek. It was nice!
I love this story, Sue! Keep being you. I think you’re amazing.
I love you too, Annette!
I’m glad you found a solution, but I’m a little worried about your balance. It might be worth getting checked out if you haven’t already.
I have no balance and never have. I am considering a fancy balance board to help.
Wow, I hate that your neighbors made fun of you at first, what idiots. Then the story takes a wonderful turn, and they (perhaps not the same neighbors, but still) see how secure you are, and they decide to emulate you. You are a trend setter! Nicely done. I am trying to get my MIL to get some walking poles. Her balance is fine, she teaches yoga, but her knees are crap and I feel like they could take some of the pressure off.
Thank you! I think the guys who make fun of me – except maybe the guy talking to his wife – were trying to be funny? It happened again yesterday – “Where’s the snow?” but I just wave my pole and walk on. Bonus: I have lost 14 lbs since January! Woo hoo.