THE HILL

A few days ago, I decided to go out for a walk to a couple of stores. What I didn't realize was:
1) How humid it was! 
2) That I had chosen the PERFECT pair of sneakers to wear (my new Reebok EasyTone personalized pair Easytone) 
3) How heavy my child had gotten
4) I need to remember to carry water with me everywhere!

It was the day of "Hurricane Earl," but it wasn't supposed to rain until mid afternoon in Riverdale, NY, so I thought it would be a good idea to get out of the house before we were stuck inside for the rest of the day and night. The way down the hills and through the stores were great, but then it came. It was time.

I looked up to see the same hill I always dreaded walking back up to return home. The long ramp of a road seemed a bit more difficult with several packages of coconut water, birthday party supplies, and some clothing in the bottom of my stroller. I pushed....and pushed....and pushed, until I stopped for a moment to catch my breath and look back down to see how far I'd come. It looked good, but I knew there was much more. So I pushed again, until I reached the top of the hill. I turned left and suddenly thought, "I don't remember there being another small hill after this..." so I pushed some more. 

As I headed down the road, I thought back to my time living in Manhattan. I remember going grocery shopping and being stuck carrying heavy bags all the way home and up the stairs to my apartment. I remember carrying loads of laundry and my new furniture up 4 flights of stairs. I remember walking in heels that were causing blisters. And what did I do? If I really needed to, I grabbed a cab and got home quicker and without pain! But with a baby and a stroller in Riverdale, what could I do? Push! 

So I started thinking, living this way is really good for your body! It makes you push yourself and figure out a way how. And although sometimes I would just like to grab a cab, it's good exercise and good for my wallet to do it this way (I still won't be going up that hill in humidity with this 35 pound baby anymore though!). Sweat dripping means the body is really working, and I feel so appreciative that I am ABLE to walk.
 
What could you do to push yourself more? Take fewer cabs, take the stairs instead of the elevator...?