by Julie, still waiting for winter in Somerville
Last year committed to walking from Florence to Rome in six months. Let me explain.
The Conqueror Challenges are virtual walking challenges. You decide what distance you want to walk and in how long. Then you download the app, connect your pedometer if you have one (or you can manually add the distances you walk), and you go. Along the way you can virtually visit where you’re walking. At certain intervals you get a “postcard” and update about the route. Upon completion, they send you a medal.
The St. Francis Way Virtual Challenge is 312.4 miles. Though I consider myself a walker, I work from home now and getting out daily to walk takes planning. That’s where audio books come in. In this new year I’ve been listening to the Hamish Macbeth series, which is set in Scotland. The series is one of my father’s favorites. Though I’ve read Agatha Raisin, I’d never read Hamish Macbeth and I’m enjoying the series very much. The beginning of the series are short novels that move along, which is wonderful for walks. The series is set in Scotland, which is one of my bucket list places to visit.
I will confess, that of late my mind has begun to wander, and I’ve started plotting a new book. There are just the seeds of an idea, but the accented voice of a narrator become the background to them taking root. Nothing is coming together yet, but the characters are showing up.
So that’s how I committed to walking from Florence to Rome while visiting Scotland in 2023. My gift to myself in this new year.
Readers, have any of your new year’s resolutions ended up with expected benefits, or joys?