In the New York Times, author Marci Alboher writes, “With friends new and old, I figured out what I really value… one step at a time. A day with friends – exploring, laughing and talking – was exactly what I’d envisioned when I turned 58 and decided to take 58 walks with friends, each one at least 5.8 miles long. Some walks went much farther than the 5.8 mile goal.” Alboher realized that not everyone wanted to or was able to walk her goal. “Some were creative with the prompt: an artist took me to an exhibit at MoMA where we visited the fifth floor, found Gallery 8 and snapped a photo. I wanted to widen my circle, not limit it. Friends fed my desire to convene people without the pressure of a party. They were flexible enough to evolve… to fit the spirit but not the letter of the challenge. I see my walks as a container for what I value.”
Walking is a centering, spiritual practice for me. I’m 72 next week, and I think taking 72 walks with people I value will be a meaningful container to hold the gifts of this year. I hope you’ll walk with me sometime. Let me know where and when, and I’ll put on my red tennis shoes.
In faith,
Marylee