The Count

From the time I started kindergarten in Wichita, Kansas until Jr. High in Arlington Heights, Illinois I walked to and from school each day. On my walk home I can remember singing the song, " Sing Your Way Home." I thought that was what you were supposed to do "on your way home." Later,  I figured out that singing was not a typical activity while walking to and from school so I had another routine that I focused on. I counted my steps.

Each day as I began walking I was aware of the cracks in the sidewalk. Then it became a game; seeing how many steps fit into each square or how few would fit in the same size square the next one I stepped into. I would take giant steps and baby steps- counting, counting and counting. I was forever counting. Even when I was walking with a group of friends I would catch myself in my silence amongst them...10,11,12,13,14....

This counting actually came in handy when I had five little ones and we were out in a large public arena. Then I would only count up to five...like, there's Rachel-one, Carly-two, Cassie-three, Jenna-four and Shane-five. Whew! All were accounted for.

One count I seem to be losing track of is my own age. It happened for the first time when I went into the hospital to have Carly. The woman behind the admitting desk asked me how old I was. I couldn't remember that I was twenty-four. This year I turned forty-six and since then I have been thinking at my next birthday I would be forty-eight. My counting is beginning to slip.

Now I have a helper in counting. Specifically, this helper counts my steps. In my effort to get in shape I was given a bug... a body bug. I wear it on my arm but Cassie thinks it could look like a home-arrest bracelet. The goal is each day to walk 10,000 steps  These shoes were made for walkin...and walkin, and walkin...

The first day I danced around while I dried my hair to get extra steps. I went the long way to the candy aisle inside Target and on my way to checkout I weaved in and out of the aisles just to annoy Shane. It made me giggle. We then went to the Parkway West homecoming parade and walked; so aware of each one of my steps. I think I stepped extra firm that day just to be sure they all registered. That day I accumulated 9645. I was short.

 On day two I worked out at 24 hour fitness and in less than an hour I got 6,000 steps...incredible. In an effort to not fall short I had to walk the mall and shop with Cassie. That day I made it just beyond the 10,000. 

Today the whole family walked this morning at Queeny Park, and this afternoon played a short game of kick-ball with the Taylor and Bishop Family. I plugged in the body bug to read the count and found that I was still short. While we cleaned up this afternoon I ran anything that belonged on the second floor up and down the stairs. I have surpassed my personal best. 

Ultimately what is my goal? 

 While my step counting number rises, my body weight numbers will fall. 

In fact, I am counting on it.