Journey to physical fitness begins with the first slip

The inky black star studded sky stretched before me, my cheeks stung with a thousand little needles of cold and my forehead felt slightly numb, as did my brain, but still I plodded on.

What was I doing?

Walking, that’s what.

I woke up on the wrong side of morning, slightly before the 6 a.m. alarm went off and burrowed deeper into my comforting cocoon of warmth and darkness and oblivion.

Sleep! Ahhhh. Did I not just turn off the light? How could morning have arrived so early?

I realize now with clarity that seemed to escape me last night, that silly little idea I had of getting up early and going for a walk was nothing more than that — a silly little idea.

But, my brain, sluggish with sleep, or at least thoughts of sleep, refused to quit annoying me.

“Do it, do it, do it, you said you would, don’t be lazy, get up, get out of bed, just go.”

And so it came to be that at 6 a.m. or shortly thereafter, I pulled on my winter jacket, the black quilted one that is never quite warm enough, and stumbled out into the darkness.

I’m sure there is a lot to be said for embarking on such an early morning walk, not the least of which is your eyes really do not become frozen shut, even though you may not open them for some time, which would, of course, explain the stumbling.

Anyway, I headed out into the darkness, blindly, not even questioning my motive for no other reason than it seemed easier.

I seemed to remember some vague idea I had about being physically fit, staying in shape and exercising every day, but, for some reason, I couldn’t actually bring it into focus at this present moment.

I walked until I finally did have a conscious thought, which was not particularly clever, but only “Brrr it’s cold.” This thought was followed quickly with my second thought which was, “Oh, great, there’s a guy with a dog; a great big dog.”

But, despite serious misgivings about my sanity and a sudden deep yearning for the bed I had just left, I trudged resolutely on, past the great big dog and his owner.

After all, I was strong, I was tough, I was woman!

That was, of course, when I fell.

Who knew that unfortunate piece of ice would appear out of nowhere, covering a large expanse of the otherwise clear sidewalk.

I would, of course, had seen it, had I not had my head up high, eyes on some unseen distant horizon, imagining all sorts of amazing and wonderful possibilities available for any woman such as myself who would dare leave her warm bed for such an early morning adventure.

But, apparently ‘pride goeth before a fall’ is a true statement, especially if one’s boots happen to have very smooth soles and that person finds herself walking on ice.

My fall almost, but not quiet, destroyed my dignity, or any dignity that could be had by a woman who had thrown her winter jacket on over her favorite red, flannel pajamas.

I trudged home finally, noting the inky black darkness was now broken by shards of light.

I made it. It felt good. And, later as I wrapped my fingers around the comforting warmth of a coffee cup, I was proud.

And, already I am looking forward to tomorrow morning so I can do it all over again.

Or not!