Rolling with Grass

I love to exercise. When I was a kid I liked hiking but loved mountain biking. I also played ice hockey and soccer in high school. When I got to college I had it all figured out and stopped working out. In my mid twenties I got into Yoga. After I met my wife we got into triathlons. When we hit the road I got into bodyweight exercise.

Recently I have been taking 1 hour walks up the highway that runs across the east side of our property. About 30 minutes up the road is a herd of Bison aka Buffalo.

This was prompted by this article in The Guardian last week:
Walking is a Superpower

Some people, I point out, don’t think walking counts as proper exercise. “This is a terrible mistake,” he says. “What we need to be is much more generally active over the course of the day than we are.” And often, an hour at the gym doesn’t cut it. “What you see if you get people to wear activity monitors is that because they engage in an hour of really intense activity, they engage in much less activity afterwards.”

Shane O’Mara

Basically we need to walk more for our bodies and brains.

One great thing about walking is that it requires very minimal equipment. If you wear clothes and shoes you can go for a walk.

Today I even downloaded the latest Neal Stephenson book – Fall – and enjoyed the first two chapters while enjoying the scenery.

Get out there and walk.

Be exceedingly friendly. That means (cringe) introducing yourself. Asking people their names and remembering them. Introducing yourself again. And again.
Tip well.
Have a go-to order.
Dine during non-peak times.
Go a lot within a short period of time.
Sit at the bar or counter.
If you are going to sit at a table, make reservations so they can track you.
If there is a host or greeter, get to know them. They are paid to remember faces.
Make a reservation on your way out.
Ask about what to order. Talk about things on the menu (or that came off the menu that you miss).
If there are other regulars, make small talk with them.
If you order a bottle of wine, offer your bartender or server a taste.
Go on the same day of the week to get the same staffers. Home in on one person and cultivate that relationship (but don’t be a creep, obv).
Go alone and try to stay off your phone.
— Read on om.co/

At one point someone told me that becoming a regular at a bar is a bad thing. The implication being that you are possibly drinking too much. This has been something that bothered me for a while.

After I met my wife this was no longer an issue. We like to eat and drink and be social. Part of that is interacting with the people who work where you are having drinks or meals. It is fun to learn more about everyone around you. Sometimes they surprise you with amazing stories. Sometimes they end up being nothing like whom you assumed they are just because they are currently working to serve you.

The article above has some great points about being a regular. At the end of the day you just need to be yourself, be interested is people, and not be a jerk just because your order took a few minutes longer.

Some people, I point out, don’t think walking counts as proper exercise. “This is a terrible mistake,” he says. “What we need to be is much more generally active over the course of the day than we are.” And often, an hour at the gym doesn’t cut it. “What you see if you get people to wear activity monitors is that because they engage in an hour of really intense activity, they engage in much less activity afterwards.”
— Read on www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jul/28/its-a-superpower-how-walking-makes-us-healthier-happier-and-brainier

Fun article on walking and health. Put some on some shoes and go for a walk about!