Steps

What steps are you taking to improve yourself?

Perhaps some of the following?

• Hydrating
• Eating better
• Exercising
• Meditating
• Deep breathing
• Staying away from negative people

??

These are all worthwhile goals. Maintain an enriching growth mindset.

My steps are literally steps.

When I got my first Fitbit in 2014, I wasn't sure if I would make the recommended 10 thousand steps per day. Talk about motivating! I'm pretty sure I managed, although I can't be 100% sure since that was so long ago. What I do remember is that small step goals made me want to do more. I got badges for personal bests and for reaching distance milestones.

I wanted to get more badges. So far, I've done 100 floors in a day and over 14 thousand miles since getting my Fitbit, not counting the early times when I let the battery die, left it on the charger, or had a glitch.

Regardless of these issues, I wanted to keep walking more. I have increased my daily goal to 15 thousand steps. Often, I get 20,000 or more. As old as I am, I don't run because my joints won't allow it, but walking is quite doable.

Every morning, I walk around my kitchen island and living room and play Wordscapes before it's even light enough to be outside. I start by stretching and walking during the daily ads. Then, I play the game and walk. It's fun and not difficult to multitask for this particular game.

I walk a lot during the course of my school day as well. Teachers are always on the move. Teaching music may be akin to teaching physical education as far as average teacher movement.

Last year, I had major surgery for potential cancer. The day of, I got up early and got the minimum 10 thousand steps. I had to be there early, so that was a feat in itself. The next day, after I managed to stand up, I walked the hospital halls. I am proud to report that I made the minimum even that day. I am convinced that the walking helped me get home in record time. The bonus was that I was pronounced cancer free!

Months later, we had a step competition at my school for the staff. Only one of the physical education teachers managed to surpass my step count on just one day. I even managed a personal best of 40K steps one day. It was an easy win, and I got a $25 Amazon gift card!

Speaking of rewards, there's a company called Evidation hooked up with my Fitbit. Every so often, I can turn in points that I earn from my walking and filling out surveys to get small prizes. It all adds up and makes the goals that much more fun to attain.

Even while writing the rough draft for this piece, I walked around my house. Am I obsessed? Perhaps, but certainly only good to come from physical activity, unless one overdoes it, falls down, or runs into furniture. Yes, I've done the latter, but not hard enough to leave a bruise.

The advantages of all this walking are that I have managed to stave off diabetes, which is on every side of my family. I generally have more energy than I did before I started the walking regimen. I haven't had to take one sick day this school year. My blood pressure and heartrate are excellent for my age.

Fitbit will soon be taken over by Google. I have no idea what to expect, but it won't change my daily goals. I recommend trying out a step counter of any brand.

If someone were to ask me why having a step counter is so motivational, I would say because it starts with just a step. So, go on, step towards your future self!