Shoes. All it takes is just one pair.
Put ‘em on girlfriend. Get moving.
That’s it. Two steps are all it takes to do something good for yourself.
Something that can make a huge impact on your day, on your life.
I’m making it sound so easy, aren’t I?
Unfortunately, there are so many excuses to NOT put those shoes on. I’ve used those excuses myself.
- I’m way too busy.
- I have kids.
- It’s snowing. It's raining. It's cold. It's hot.
- It’s not fun to walk alone.
Time to look at things differently, mama!
- Everyone can find the time. Plan for a 5-minute walk around the block. It’s highly probable that you will enjoy it so much, your 5 minutes will turn into even more -- without you even realizing it.
- Chances are your kids could use a bit of fresh air too. What if getting their little legs moving means an extra long nap? (Which — bonus! — could mean a little downtime for you too.)
- Pull out that cold weather gear! It's time to put those boots to use. I’m betting you rock that cute winter hat (you should take a selfie!) and no one will even notice if your mittens don’t match. (Mine don’t.)
- When was the last time you jumped in a puddle? You aren't gonna melt if you get a little wet!
- That friend you’ve been meaning to schedule a playdate with? Call her up and tell her it’s time for a walk. You just never know, it might lead to a regular thing.
Now that you’ve put one foot in front of the other (literally), how do you keep the momentum? How do you make walking your “thing”?
Accountability can help lead to success. Fitness trackers like the Fitbit and Apple Watches are helpful, and logging miles on an app can work. But what I found to be the most useful? Joining a community!
I'm a member of 99 Walks, which is an inspirational fitness challenge designed for women of every age, ability, and location. Through monthly and quarterly challenges, you’ll walk a combined 99 miles with women in your neighborhood or across the county — or choose to go solo and crush 33 miles! Along the way, your teammates and other 99 Walks members provide the encouragement and support you need to be successful.
This community has been great for encouraging me to go for a walk with my girlfriends from all over the country! And all I had to do was put on a pair of shoes.
Want to learn more and sign up for 99 Walks? Visit their website! You can bring your own team, join a team, or walk solo during the month to meet your goal and even earn a reward!
A special note of thanks to my 99 Walks team and fellow Macaroni Kid publishers, Kayt DeMerchant, Kelly Pramberger, Jenny Steadman, Erika Veduccio, and Kristin Saluti for their help in providing footage for the "All You Need is a Pair of Shoes" video.
Author Julie Dikken lives in Colorado and is the publisher of Macaroni Kid Evergreen and Macaroni Kid Arvada.
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