Today was a stay at home day.  I was home with Migraines and the kids had a snow day.  Tomorrow it is supposed to be nicer and I am headed into work - so there will be steps taken.  I probably did a quarter mile to half a mile of walking cleaning and walking around the house - but I won't record it.  I will start back up tomorrow.  Giving myself the room to spend the time with the kids and focus on all the other goals in my life as well - helps me feel alot more successful.  I can hyper focus on a single task, but then things get put aside.  I will make it to New Orleans - and I will raise happy healthy kids who love to walk with me when the weather isn't 12 degrees and snowing blizzard style!!  We should have stopped for 30 minutes and stretched and did some push ups and sit ups...  next time that will be on the agenda for certain!  We still have to move = even when we are home bound!!

Monday and Tuesday my youngest was sick = I played nursemaid and didn't record my steps.  Today I rushed everyone out the door, to school, got my son to his dads, and went to work - still sick but feeling better.  Doctors visits and a three hour drive home - I forgot to record my steps again.  So the last three days are a wash.

For this adventure I am counting them as a restful needed pause in the walking to New Orleans - life has pauses - it has interrupts - and when they are over - we keep going.  The world is coated in ice and snow - and tomorrow may be a snow day for the kiddos - I am not worried about this week being a wash - because my goal is to get there - it's not on a time frame.  Why is this important - because if I am grueling on myself when life has it's hiccups I will loose my motivation.  it takes focus to stay motivated - and the best way is to keep it fun.

I have not lost my motivation to get to New Orleans - I am super excited about it actually and am fully vested in this journey!!  I have my goal - I have a plan, I have mini goals to stay excited.  That is part of what this is about.  Loosing weight, getting healthier - also on the game plan.  One step at a time - and for this moment in time - my next step will get myself to bed.  My body is telling me to take care of it with sleep in appropriate hours!!

My diet has improved, my focus and mental awareness has changed and I am far more content than I was.  All good things.  I am looking forward to another 10,000 step day, and another and lots more!!!  Sweet dreams - tomorrow my snow boots are getting a work out!!

The wind and the snow blows outside in a gale of frozen gusts and swirls.  As a result - we did not do alot of walking.  2542 steps today -  1.25 miles.  Seems so small compared to yesterday - but there are at least steps - and I went to the dojo - which is another type of exercise all together :D

Today with 1.25 miles walked I have 1279.41 miles to New Orleans and 15.26 miles to Castle Rock!!!

Each step I take brings me closer - a mountain is worn down by wind and rain and sun over time to reveal the layers underneath that time forgot.  So to am I reaching my goal, and wearing down the weight I have gained, and gaining muscle I lost over the last few months.  Each step and movement is to my benefit to live a healthier longer life.  A dedication worth making a priority!!

For the first time since I started my journey I walked a full 10231 steps - a full 5 miles in one day!!  I can feel it in my knees and in my body - but it feels good.  A first - the first of many.  I know what it takes to walk the full 5 miles now - and the dedication I will have to put forth and the focus to achieve that every day.  Luckily I am up for the challenge.  Especially if it gets me to New Orleans :D

Today with 5 miles walked I have 1280.66 miles to New Orleans and 16.51 miles to Castle Rock!!!

I was 175 pounds the last time I weighed in at the doctors - I hope to get back down to 145 - what I weighed before I quit my job at King Soopers as a florist in 2013.  I have some work to do - and some healing to do.  I will make it - I am determined.

I have a whole host of other goals as well including doing Tai Chi every day and Qi Gong - getting back to my martial art of Nimpo and Bekinjitsu - the art of the sword.  I want to learn the martial art of fan dancing as well. One step - literally - at a time.  I made it to 10,000 steps - I will make it to New Orleans - and I will achieve these goals too.

One step at a time!!

I  walked 3175 today = which is 1.5 miles

Today I have 1285.66 miles to New Orleans and 21.51 miles to Castle Rock

I didn't walk as much as I would have hoped - high heels were hurting my knees, and I can feel the storm coming this weekend.  It is so weird = that used to exhilarate me - not slow me down.  A sign I need to get more in shape and Tai Chi will become part of my daily tasks.  Off to bed for me - it has been a long day

I missed my blogging for the day yesterday due to some good ole D&D role playing  - so here are the stats from yesterday:

I walked 3329 steps yesterday which is 1.63 miles

at that point I had 1289.22 miles to New Orleans and 25.07 miles to Castle Rock

Today I walked 4143 steps which is 2.06 miles 

Today I have 1287.16 miles to New Orleans and 23.01 miles to Castle Rock

I am witting it away - not in great swaths - but in small doable pieces that - although it will take me longer - will get me there!!  Oh the lessons this bringing about - every small step counts - every focus to a goal is done in smaller steps and pieces that lead to a greater more amazing goal!  I find that I am starting to apply these concepts to all kinds of things in my life and the procrastination is becoming less and less appealing!!  It is late though - so I must say adue - tomorrow - I hope to make 5000 steps!!  :D

Alright - so - yesterday I walked enough to make to Stranahans - now I need to actually go there for a tour and a taste, and a second tour.. and a 3rd fourth and 15th tasting  nomnomnom!!!

Today it snowed - alot - I only made it to 2065 steps - which is one Mile - I gazed at the beautiful snow falling and the path around the lake and decided that with all the colds going around I will walk when it's a little less cold and damp.  But I have to step it up - walking one mile at a time per day - is not going to get me there very fast!!

I have 1290.85 miles left to New Orleans  and 26.7 miles to Castle Rock

So the written part of my journey begins - the lifestyle changes it's creating and the actual "journey" that is taking place.  I have gained 35 pounds since i started my new job a year and a half ago - I weigh more now than I did when I left my husband.  I have a supportive boyfriend that has loved me the entire time and regardless of weight see's an amazing and beautiful woman.  I am blessed beyond words!  That being said - I also don't like being 175 pounds - the weight is hard on my knees, lungs organs and life.  I am out of shape and becoming less and less limber.  This will not do - so I am making changes to my life.  Habit.RPG.com was the beginning of that change - and is still a daily tool I am using and have been for a couple weeks.  When i started seeing the changes there - I started sharing my new found game and talking about it.  A friend told me about the walking challenge - I grabbed it like water in the desert!!  what fun!!

So here I am - walking the miles it takes to go to New Orleans.  It hasn't been in huge leaps, or over extended hikes - it is in small steps recorded on my 3DS around my work and on trails I find and talking with friends and my children.  Right now it is small steps - but those small steps are leading to longer walks!!  The Aquarium was my first goal - I made it there!!  I walked 10.1 miles!!  it fueled me - and realizing that I had already walked to my second goal that night when I posted was so very exciting!!

Now I walk to Castle Rock - where I lived for 6 years - where I have friends and an art guild that I miss dearly and have not seen since July of 2012.  All these places I have planned on my journey are actual places I want to visit and see and play and talk and enjoy!!  as I get out of my territory it will be post card pictures of places I would like to see and visit - and when I actually do drive down there I will see them and take pictures and celebrate.

Take the time to invest in yourself - it is worth the effort - it is worth the time, and it is worth succeeding!!