I spent a few days last week visiting my mother in Daytona Beach, Fla. The weather wasn't quite nice enough for golf but we managed to get out to the beach in the morning to walk.
And, I mean walk.
My mother can walk and walk and walk. And she's not out for a leisurely, smell the roses sort of walk. No. She's walking near her top speed. For miles.
We ran into a couple of her friends on the beach. My mother wanted me to meet them. Walter, a tan, portly, smiling man in his 70's, with a booming, German accented voice, said, "Yah, well, guud lahck keeping up wit her! Ah wish ah could walk so fahst!"
We walked between 6 and 7 miles each morning. Of course, the fine, clean beach, crashing waves, sea gulls overhead helps. But, still, it's nearly seven miles.
We ran into other people too who all basically said the same thing as Walter. My mother not only walks a lot but she walks fast and with good posture. I would like to say I had something to do with that but it's all her (good job Mom!).
Our walks reminded me of the importance of two things: speed and posture. Decline in walking speed correlates closely with physical problems in later years. And, if you want to take about ten years off your life, stand tall and walk briskly. Standing tall (what some would say is "good" posture) not only makes you seem more youthful but it's better for your spine and even internal organs. And, it makes you feel better about your self. It enhances your mood.
So, here's a reminder to work on your top speed and another one on posture.
DK
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