I enjoy walking as a form of exercise and I have for the last fifteen or so years. I feel like I come from a walking family, my Dad started walking for exercise when I was about fifteen years old. He was a smoker and was overweight. He had a blood clot or something in his leg and the doctor told him quit smoking, get exercising or else. So he started munching on carrot sticks, threw out the smokes and started walking four miles each morning and four miles each evening. Religiously.

Unfortunately he did start up the smoking again but he never stopped walking. Both of his sisters are also avid walkers so I feel like it’s just in my blood.

Walking was therapy for me also, around the time my marriage was ending. My best friend at that time and I would walk five kilometres every evening. Either outside or indoors on the walking track in the arena. Walking and talking, getting it all out. I loved it.

Around the time that I met Clint, I started walking less because every moment we could steal away together, we did. But also because I left my nine to five job and went back to twelve hour shifts, I found myself exhausted after work and didn’t feel like walking.

When we got a dog four years ago, I got back into walking. Rain or shine, snow or sleet. I would faithfully take the dog on a good walk almost every day. I was in good shape then, also working out with weights and doing yoga. Then Mr Sid came along and my whole routine was thrown out the window.

Not that I’m complaining. I’d give up a thousand beachside in Hawaii sunset yoga sessions to have Sidney. He was eighteen months when he joined our family and so my whole world was as turned upside down as his. I did buy a stroller immediately and would put him in it with his favourite snacks, some toys and go for walks but they weren’t the speed or quality of walks I was used to.

It’s only been lately that I started walking in the evening again with a friend of mine, once Sid is in bed. It’s a quick walk, just thirty minutes…one hour would be better but we both have busy lives and it’s better than nothing.

This week I’ve been walking to work because my car is in the shop getting repaired from last year when it was stolen. I’ve really enjoyed walking to work, the weather has been amazing. I walk to work, walk home at lunch then walk back for one pm then walk home around four. Eight minutes each way. It’s a perfect little walk.