Life took a turn. So, picture this – it’s a crazy hot day in 2020, and there I am, sipping wine with my hubby in the backyard shed. Out of the blue, we drop the bomb: our 17-year relationship is a wrap. “End of the line, huh?” I throw it out there. “Yeah,” he mumbles, staring at his glass. The unspoken is now spoken.
Shed Revelations and Morning Realities
After the initial shock, a weird kind of relief hits. We toast to our newfound honesty, chat till dawn, feeling all mature about it. But the next day, reality smacks me – sipping coffee together feels odd. The recent loss of my dad and our furry buddy added to the emotional cocktail. Doubts crept in – mid-40s, starting over, and, oh, hello, pandemic.
To make sense of the chaos, I decide to hit the road. The idea? Walk 15,000 steps daily – a doable goal for consistency and comfort, a daily ritual for the next life chapter. As a travel writer, I’ve tackled walks like the 78-mile Capital Ring or a weekend hike on the Kent coast. But this daily thing? Totally different. Dad used to say, “Everything is resolved by walking.”
Rainy Hikes and Therapeutic Trails
The scorching heat turned into relentless rain, but I found solace in my two-hour hikes. Luckily, London offers Epping Forest, the Olympic Park’s water wonders, and the wild marshes near Hackney. Walking became my therapy, with the Pacer app keeping me hooked.
As winter set in, so did muddy paths and low sun. My ex and I, now separated, continued our talks during occasional meet-ups. Meanwhile, I explored off-the-beaten-track routes, mindful walks with meditation or pondering my half-finished novel. Hunger and the need for a lie-down signaled productive time spent.
The 15,000 Steps Lifestyle
People say they’re “too busy” for 15,000 steps, but as a freelancer, it became my weekly routine. Easy to squeeze in, whether walking to my co-workspace or a different neighborhood for a night out. Seasons played their part too – early morning walks in heatwaves, waiting for winter days to warm up.
Three years post-divorce, my ex and I are buddies, happy in new relationships. My boyfriend finds my daily step count amusing but not entirely convincing. Nowadays, I’m not as strict, but the monthly average stays on target. More than anything, it’s a reminder of life’s changes, of constantly evolving – all sparked by that shed moment.
