Taking a long walk is like writing a novel. I’m certainly not the first person to make that analogy, but I was thinking of it today while I was out walking. The best part of a walk for me is when I’m at the end and can see my house or whatever my starting point was. Likewise for writing, the ending is my favorite part. When I write, I always know how my story is going to end; it has to tie back in some way to the beginning. So, after I get through the middle stuff, the ending almost writes itself. And it feels so good to have accomplished something.

The beginning of a walk or a piece of writing isn’t bad either. I usually start both with energy and enthusiasm.

It’s that long stretch in the middle that can be really difficult sometimes. If you’re writing (or even reading) a novel, you can always quit in the middle. Lots of people do, and they never get published. When you’re walking, quitting in the middle is not really an option. I suppose you could call a cab (or an ambulance) but usually you just have to get back on foot the same way you came. So writers,  don’t let yourself quit in the middle either. Just keep walking your fingers over your computer keyboard because that feeling of accomplishment at the end is so sweet.

Day 188: 11,165 Steps  YTD: 1,693,401 Steps  Goal: 1,771,000 Steps