Walking through the chaos (literally)

How a 10,000 steps a day challenge and a mocktail book launch are helping me navigate election madness

A friend of mine has a book launching on Election Day - November 8, 2024. While this might seem like an odd day for a book launch I must tell you that the book is about mocktails. In this sober girls mind it seems to be the perfect kind of book to launch on Election Day. We all might need a stiff drink to get through the next few months but in the end we know a stiff drink isn’t going to carry us through the craziness of our country right now.

This particular friend (Deb Podloger of Mocktail Mom) decided that beginning July 28, 2024 - 100 days before her book launch and Election Day - she would commit to walking 10,000 steps a day. 10,000 steps a day for 100 days is 1,000,000 steps. Go ahead, check my math.

1,000,000 steps. Holy heck.

I do not have a book launching on Election Day but this seemed like a pretty good challenge to participate in. I needed some motivation to get myself moving and this I thought, is it.

I got myself a pedometer to replace the annoying Apple watch (that’s a story for another time) and off I went. As I write this now I am on Day 10 of 100. Which means that I’ve walked at least 100,000 steps. Not bad me, not bad. #patontheback

There’s a few things about walking 10,000 steps a day that caught me off guard. While the challenge is transforming it should come with a warning label. Since it doesn’t, here’s my warning before you buy yourself cute walking clothes and jump all in:

• Warning: It’s physically hard. An average day for me is 2,500 - 4,500 steps. I’m definitely tired after 10,000.

• Warning: It’s a time commitment. 10,000 steps is roughly 5 miles. For me this is about a 90 minute walk. I’ve learned the hard way to break it up into two (or more) walks throughout the day. And also, take the stairs, park far away from your destination, walk the hallway while you’re brushing your teeth.

• Warning: It will change your brain. It has truly been the best thing for me mentally in a multitude of ways. I started off wanting to use the time to listen to books and podcasts but then decided maybe I would walk naked. As in NO technology. Just me and my thoughts. I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that there’s something in the fresh air, quietness, and solitude that clears the toxicity from your mind. It opens up file cabinets in your brain that you had forgotten about. Memories, ideas, problem solving…your brain will be SO HAPPY.

• Warning: You will be distracted from the political drama and global events that are threatening to consume us all. #thatsagoodthing

• Warning: You will want to unplug. Maybe not right away but eventually. It feels like you’re fighting with Mother Nature when you’re staring at your phone while in her presence. Let’s all get along.

• Warning: Your body will change. Over time you’ll feel strength and endurance. You might even want to eat better and drink more water. #allgoodthings

• Warning: Walking is the gateway to other types of exercise. Maybe you’ll get the urge to pick up a kettlebell every now and then.

• Warning: Your body will be tired. You will want to lay down and stretch and do a Happy Baby pose. This is good for your body, keep going.

• Warning: This is a cure for a bad mood. If you’re the type of person that really enjoys being in a bad mood then by all means, go ahead and skip the walk.

If after reading my warning labels you still want to jump in with our challenge, I’m so happy you’re here! There’s no registration page, nothing to sign up for, no social media requirements. Just walk. That’s it. Just walk every day. And if 10,000 steps is too much for you then do what is good for your body. Maybe it’s 2,000 today and 4,000 next week. Just. Walk.

And here’s a little spoiler alert: at the end of the day or at the end of the week you’ll be so proud of yourself. You did something hard and you feel it. And guess what? The next time a hard thing presents itself to you you’ve now built the muscle and the confidence to tackle hard things. You want to quit drinking? You can do it. You want to lose 30 pounds? You can do it. You want the courage to pursue a dream? This is the gateway that will get you there.

You can do it. I promise.

K. Be good. Or don’t.

xo