5 From 75

For the month of February, I set a goal to walk 75 miles. That seemed like a big goal to me and I also realized that the weather might not always cooperate with my goal. I walked in the rain and in a sand storm. I walked in 45 degree weather and in 85 degrees...hey, what can I say it's Texas in February. I walked to the park. I walked to the post office and to work (which I didn't include in my total). I walked to Dollar General. I walked alone and I walked with a friend. I walked in San Angelo, and in Stanton, and in Morgan Mill...with apologies to Forest Gump, everywhere I went I was wal-KING. I dodged kids on tricycles,  kids on bikes, kids on hover boards, a little punk on a scooter and even a boy on a unicycle. Some days I walked when I didn't want to and sometimes I walked talking to myself and processing whatever occupied my mind. The best days were when I walked and prayed and praised God.

In the end, I reached my goal. 75.17 miles. (78.9 if you include the to and from work miles) Here are 5 Takeaways from walking 75 miles:

1. I feel a sense of accomplishment.  I honestly don't remember the last time I set a personal goal and completed it. This wasn't something someone else could do for me. It was not something I could hire out, although, one day when I had a particularly bad attitude I was sorely tempted to pay a kid with an  remote control car to tape my phone to the top and speed it around a little while my pedometer app added distance to my total. I did it on my own and I am proud of myself.

2. I feel encouraged to do more. I am setting higher goals for March. Not just fitness goals, but for other areas of my life too. It's been said: SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS. I get it now.

3. I feel healthier and stronger. I lost 2 lbs. I didn't really think that was very good until I measured and realized that I had also lost 7 inches. (Happy, happy, joy, joy, HA!)

4. I feel like I have renewed personal integrity. For years, I have told myself I was going to do something and then let myself slide. I could not trust me. I always had good intentions, but I didn't have follow through. I need to keep building on this until I do what I set out to do more often than not.

5. I feel energized and excited.  I am ready to go do great things. I am able to dream and picture my ideal life. A life where I am healthy, active and full of energy. Where I have enough energy to do good at work, keep my home neat and organized, spend time with friends and family and be my best me.