Since childhood I’ve had an inclination to go too far and too long. When I was about 11, I decided to go for an afternoon walk from our home in Harare. I took off from our house on Henley Drive and went at least to the end of Huxton Avenue.
I walked to the end of Huxton Avenue and then walked all the way back. It was hot and tiring and I was afraid that I had bitten off more than I could chew. I remember thinking perhaps I was getting lost. It took me such a long time to get home. It was more than 4km, but for an 11-year-old walking on her own, it was a very long way. I had ended up going too far and it took way too long.
Fast forward 43 years and I find myself doing the same. Yesterday, after I finished the blog, I decided to go for a short jog. I fell into the same trap – going far too far and it taking way too long. I push myself further. I told Mike I would go 2km out and 2km back, but when I got to the 2km mark, I thought, I’ll just run a little further – to the hospital. When I got to the hospital, I thought, I’ll just go to the school. When I got to the school, I thought, I’ll just go until I feel my watch buzz 3km and I’ll turn around. I was running into the wind and I thought I felt my watch buzz. I’ll just run to 10th Avenue and that was finally what I did, but now I had to get all the way home again. Too far and too long. But one thing I did get right yesterday was that I didn’t go too fast. I’ve found that when I leave my heart rate too high for too long, I end up having palpitations at night, so I’ve been slowing down and walking some of the way. It made a difference. But as I jogged along, I thought back to that long walk along Huxton Avenue and pondered how I haven’t changed. It’s not bad to push yourself, as long as it’s not too much. It’s really strange looking at my old childhood stomping ground in Harare. Some of it has not changed at all.
Today Eskom reduced load shedding to Stage 1 overnight and Stage 2 after 9am. It meant we had no load shedding throughout the day but will have at 8pm, hence me doing the blog now.
It’s been a good day. We met Julian and David for breakfast; I worked, went to my friends for lunch and worked again this afternoon. 5 hours of work, so a really moderate day.
Acts 20:32
I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
These are the days.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂
Gym:
I am taking three rest days. Today is day 1.
Braces:
Day 129