Walking Pays Off

When I was a young girl I spent most weekends and summers with my grandparents. Didn't have to go too far. I lived in Carson and they lived in Inglewood, but it still felt like I was a world away. Those were my best times.

During my visits, my Grammy and I developed the habit of going for walks, especially after her heart surgery when she was working to rebuild her strength.

On the days we walked we would compete to see who could find the most change along the way. Trash Day was always my favorite day of the week to walk because that was the day that the most change was typically. Not sure why that was, but it was.

Now, all these years later, I still look for loose change when I'm out walking. Pennies are most common (I once found a ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL in the gutter), and a couple days ago I found this bunch of coins (pictured) huddled somewhat together.

First, I found the penny that's hangin' out over there by itself. I have this weird thing where I only pick up pennies that are facing UP, and then I mutter this little diddy:

 

"Find a penny, pick it up, and all the day you'll have good luck."

Corny, I know...but it's what I do.

So I picked up the penny and about thirty minutes later, in a separate location, I spotted the nickel...then the dime, then the penny, and finally...the quarter. I could tell by their rough feel that they'd been on the ground awhile, and had been run over a number of times. I scooped them all up, thanked God (as I do every time I find money), and gave them a new home in my pocket.

In addition to the health benefits that walking provides, every now and then...it gives a financial benefit as well. No amount is too small; I am thankful for it all.

How 'bout you?

Let the DIALOGUE begin: When was the last time you went for a walk? Did you find any money along the way?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Penny (or more) For Your Thoughts

Last Saturday I had a book club meeting to attend but didn't want to drive my car due to issues that I'll write about on another day.

In order to get to the meeting via public transportation I needed to take two buses, a train, and then one more bus. No biggie. With my TAP card, I can get anywhere...and I do.

As I exited the last bus and began walking to the park where the meeting was being held I happened to notice something shiny in the grass.

I focused in on the shiny thing and noticed that it was a dime. A dime. Cool. I actually found a dime earlier today as well. But...we're not talking about today...we're talking about last Saturday.

I bent down to pick up the dime, thanked God for "the find" as I always do, and noticed a quarter near the dime. Then I spotted two more dimes, two nickels and a penny. SIXTY SIX CENTS all together!

I was baffled by finding this much change so close together.

I walk often so I'm used to finding a nickel here or a dime there, but never have they all been TOGETHER before.

Finding all that change Saturday gave me a sweet memory of my Grammy. She and I took evening walks everyday during the summers of my childhood, especially after her heart surgeries when she walked to regain her strength. I loved those walks! We would talk, laugh, and have contests to see who could find the most change along the way. Some days I won. Some days Grammy won. Even on the days when Grammy won, I was still a winner because we were together and I loved every moment spent with her. My Grammy was my very first best friend.

Oh how I miss her...her laugh...and the beautiful music she played on her organ. I'd watch her fingers glide across the keys while her feet gracefully pressed on the floor pedals.

Hernando's Hideaway, If I Were a Rich Man, and Blessed Assurance were my favorite songs. She would play them for me any time I asked.

With that said...Let the DIALOGUE begin: What's the most amount of money you've ever found while out walking? I once found a ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL in a street gutter. It was a little muddy, it spent just the same as a clean one would've.

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Frog Fur and Eye of Newt

Earlier this evening I took a little stroll through my neighborhood.

Walked to the library to drop off a book, and decided to take a different route home.

I went up a block that I don't usually travel and no sooner than I hit the block, I wondered if I'd made a good decision.

Out of nowhere came a man dressed in all black and he was walking RIGHT BEHIND ME. I looked ahead and there was no one else on this block -- just me...and HIM. I was a little unsettled because I live right by a courthouse and inmates are released IN ALL BLACK right about the time I was on my walk. So my mind (probably unnecessarily) began to race.

I didn't want to take my chances on anything "weird" happening, so I decided to walk into the very first place of business that I saw open.

I opened the door, walked in, and immediately got hit with the smell of incense, or spices, or something.

I was trying not to make it look like I had only walked in for safety reasons, so I walked around and checked out the store.

In jars along the wall were all types of roots. Some I'd heard of...most I hadn't. And books. Lots of books.

As a looked at the titles I soon realized just what kind of "store" I'd walked into...it was a witchcraft, black magic type deal. You know...the place one goes to pick up "things" for "potions."

Oh boy!

As soon as I realized what I'd walked into, I knew that I had to GET OUT.

Nothing about MY spirit belonged in THAT place.

I'm thankful that the door was open, because the guy who was walking behind me was pretty creepy, but Geez Louise...why couldn't it have been a beauty salon or something along those likes???

The experience taught me a lesson though. The lesson is this: Sometimes we don't realize what we're walking into until we're smack dab in the middle of it.

Lesson learned.

Now...Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you ever walked into a place only to realize that you really didn't belong there?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Walking to The Beat

So it appears that I was a bit "ambitious" in my "365 Posts in 365 Days" plan. Although my heart, mind, and fingertips were willing...unfortunately, my finances and the internet were not.

At that very end of Wednesday night's post, I ran out of data and couldn't afford to buy more until I got paid on Friday. Friday came, and so did my plans for that night, which meant that I wasn't able to get a post in. So here I am...2 days behind, if we don't include today. No worries...I'm still determined to "get 'er done!"

Today's post was inspired by my afternoon walk. Now that my plantar fasciitis has gone away (THANK GOD!!!) I have resumed my evening walks, hoping to reach my goal of 500 miles walked by 12/31/15.

What I found interesting today is how things have changed. When I began walking as exercise back in July 2012, I would rarely walk without music. I had to have it. And if for some reason, I accidentally left my earbuds behind, it would throw me all out of whack. It was like my feet just couldn't move without the music.

Later on down the line, for safety reasons, I started walking with just ONE ear plugged.

Fast forward to NOW, and I rarely walk with music anymore.

Instead, I now allow nature to be my soundtrack.

If I'm out on trail, I choose to listen to birds chirping or the sounds that rustle in the brush (which typically freaks me out, but thankfully none of the creators of that rusting have eaten me).

If I'm at the beach, the crashing waves accompany my footsteps.

And if I'm walking through the neighborhood, I am met with a variety of sounds that make me smile. Whether it's the chatter of children, or the television in someone's living room, or dinner being cooked in the kitchen...I am always left wondering..."What's their story?"

As I said before, the shift has been quite interesting. If someone had told me 2.5 years ago that I'd be walking WITHOUT my beloved music, I wouldn't have believed them. But...here I am.

Anyhoo...

Let the DIALOGUE begin: If you are one who runs or walks for exercise, do you prefer music or to go without?

Talk to me!

Til next time...