What made Me Choose A 5k Walk For 80th Birthday

A friend On Twitter asks me to write something to share with her Adult Education Class. The Question was what motivated me to walk a 5k for my 80th birthday.
The answer is if you don't use it you lose it. My age and injuries have caused me to have stiff and achy legs.
The problems with my legs began a few years ago when I was involved in a very serious accident on an airport transport. My ankle was fractured across the joint between the foot and the ankle. Surgery was required and two plates were bolted to my leg down into my foot. The Doctor did not guarantee I would walk again. After surgery, I spent 41/2 months in a Rehab hospital doing therapy for the injured leg and building upper body strength so I could get up out of bed into my wheelchair. For two months my leg stayed elevated and not allowed to touch the ground-I was in a steel boot for protection.

It was a shock to my very active life. Battling cancer twice, losing my husband and now facing the fact I might never walk again. The only option I had I did a little self-care, share a little with the fellow patients in the hospital and yes, walk again. The hospital wanted to send me home in a wheelchair but I said no! I wanted a four-wheel walker. It took a year to walk without the walker. Walking around the house and short distances were okay but for long distances, the walker was used. My "Cadillac Walker "was a great reward for perseverance.

Then in a fall 2 years ago I shattered a wrist which required surgery and more plates inserted into my body. My regained active life had been turned back into slow motion. My brain wanted to go but my body said no! Lack of exercise caused stiffness in the joints. I tried exercise machines but they were so boring. I joined Zumba Chair for 24 lessons. The exercise class made me smile but some of the moves created pain in the back and legs.

Back to square one for me! I can't give up on walking. My daughter stays fit by running half marathons. I can't run! What about me! The light bulb turned on-I can walk with my "Cadillac Walker" and do 5k for my 80th birthday. Being a structured person my goal was perfect. It is like making a good biscuit or playing the piano-it takes practice to be good. My daughter guided me through the training process by walking with me through the sessions and then walking with me in the 5K.

Lesson learned: Be thankful for what you have and make their best at what you have". You will be fine that the happiest person is not the one who has the best of everything but makes the most of everything he has. Last, but not least making the most of downtime by learning new technologies, kept my mind exercised, and found a connection beyond my neighborhood. The connection is you my Twitter and Facebook Friends.