Walking Really Is Good for the Body

It is cold again today, though the wind seems a little calmer.
Heavy snow is falling along the Sea of Japan coast, and I can only hope it does not turn into a serious disaster.

Extreme weather is exhausting, wherever it happens.

 

My daughter’s city, New York, is also buried in snow.
It seems to have fallen throughout the night, to the point where commuting in the morning may be difficult.
Northern parts of the United States are facing severe snowfall as well, and that too is worrying.

 

Yesterday, I walked the Gionyama hiking trail for the first time in quite a while.
The course takes about an hour and a half in a loop from my house.
It is nothing like walking on flat ground—there is plenty of elevation change, and I worked up a good sweat.
It was solid exercise.

When my children were small, I used to walk this trail with ease.
This time, narrow paths along the cliffs felt tighter than I remembered, and the ups and downs more demanding.
I could not help but feel my age.

 

Still, it was refreshing.

The number on the scale, which has been creeping upward lately, somehow managed to stay in the 76-kilogram range.
That alone felt like a small victory.

Having such a lovely companion as Ann, my dog, and not taking her out often enough feels like a real waste.
I would like to walk with her more, but in this cold, it is not so easy.

I find myself wishing for warmer days to come soon.