As i was driving home the other day, something popped in my head. I need to relearn how to walk properly. But is there a ‘proper’ way to walk? Ever since i broke my ankle and had to under go surgery to fix it, all i’ve been able to think about is walking again. Bein mobile. You never really understand how much that means to you until it’s taken away. You take it for granted. It’s second nature. So, i got home, ‘hobbled’ into the house and got on the trusting interwebz to figure out “How to walk properly” but what i found instead was a life lesson.

No two people walk quite the same way. Your style of walking is as individual as your fingerprints.
This makes perfect sense. No one has the same life.. while some have similar lives, something somewhere is different. YOUR life is a unique as your fingerprints.

Stretch before and after walking. The heel-to-toe action of walking tends to tighten your calf muscles, so stretching the lower legs is important.
You should think ahead and think it through. Life can wear you down and wind you up. By thinking, your body will thank you later.

Start slowly at a comfortable pace.
There’s no rush, keep it simple, keep yourself happy.

Maintain good posture. Keep ears centered over shoulders, which should be centered over hips. Don’t slump. Keep your chest up and out and shoulders relaxed. With this posture there will be less chance of foot, leg, or back pain.
Confidence. Keep those you love centered in your life. Don’t sweat the bad stuff. Take it in stride and it will make you better.

Heel first, rock, then swing the foot forward. Sounds simple, but as you walk faster it’s harder to maintain the rocking motion. Keep your foot swing natural.
Find a good peace within yourself, hold on to it, and savor it. Sounds simple, but as life flashes by, it’s easy to forget it. Keep your head up and never sway.

Pace yourself. Use the target heart rate to set your pace. Walking at a moderate rate will increase your stamina.
Enjoy the small things, stop and smell the roses. Set small goals and reach them. Just be yourself, stay true, it will make you stonger.

Don’t forget to swing your arms.
Don’t forget to let loose, go a little crazy. You don’t have to do it all the time but it feels damn good when you do!

So, i may walk a little funny now.. and thats ok, because i have what matters most, those i love and those that love me. Thats what makes the world go round and that’s what helps me walk.

So, first let me say that I have nothing against smokers.  Hell, I used to be one.  What I do have a problem with is inconsiderate smokers. 

Why, oh why, do you think it’s appropriate to light up at a school bus stop?   As my oldest walks by and breathes it in, followed by my middle, then as I push my 7 month old through the smell I am left wondering why we should have to breath it because you couldn’t wait 5 minutes.  Just because you’re outside doesn’t make it better.  In fact, it permeates the air around you and floats a good distance.  Yeah, I know.   There is no sign that says you can’t smoke and it’s your right to smoke in that area but common sense tells me that my kids and I have the right to not breath in your toxic smoke at a school bus stop.  Ya know, where my kid and several other kids have to board the bus everyday.  I don’t have a choice to not have my kid use that bus stop but you sir certainly have the choice to wait until everyone is gone before you get your fix. 

All I am asking for is a little consideration.

I remember back in my younger days discussing the “invention” of milk.  We’d always ask, “What person thought, ‘I think I’ll go suck on that part of a cow and drink whatever comes out!’?”  then giggle hysterically at the notion.

Years later, breast have become the strangest obsession for me.  Why did no one tell me that’s how you fed your young? Why did it have to come as such a surprise when I was pregnant with Baby J?  I’d stand in the shower, 38 weeks pregnant, trying to figure out just exactly how milk would come out.  It saddens me that breastfeeding is so foreign to our society that I had to learn about the natural way to feed my son.  Or maybe I’m just a moron who had no idea while everyone else knew (that thought saddens me too though).

So why do most insist our breasts are a sexual commodity?  Because they’re not.  They’re not a carnal part of a woman that only lovers and medical professionals should see. They’re the “tit of life” as I like to call it.  They nurture and comfort, they are organic nutrients, and mostly they are.. well.. NOT unnatural!

I have no problem with formula feeding.  In fact, I’m a part-time formula feeder.  So no, I will not be participating on the debate between breast is best and formula forever.

What I will say is this: society is obsessed with breasts for all the wrong reasons.  They are beautiful and amazing and can assist in sustaining life!  And for that, I will obsess.

P.S.  If Bear Grylls was a breastfeeding mother, would he drink his own milk when lost in the wilderness?

Legwarmers. I mean seriously. Ok, so I do have a bit of a biased opinion of them having been born in the 70’s and doing most of my growing up in the 80’s, but still. They are fantastic. I have about 8 pairs for Miss Lucy. She’s got pink ones that go with her brother’s hand-me-down boy outfits, she’s got brown and blue ones that go with her WAYYYY too girly outfits (that I certainly didn’t buy her) and she’s even got pirate ones for her rrrrrrrrowdy days. Now, I know they’re cute, but in my humble opinion, legwarmers perform on may more levels. We live in Denver. In the fall, it’s perfectly normal to wake up to 30 degree weather and then watch as the temp soars into the 70’s during the day. Most outfits don’t accommodate this type of fluctuation. But legwarmers! Well, legwarmers do just as they promise and keep her little tootsies and legs warm and cozy all the way up to her squishy little thighs. And when it gets to warm, you simply pull them off (the slower and bouncier the better…maximizes the giggling that way) and let those cute little turkey legs breathe. But, you say, what about when their dimply little legs are too large for the baby legwarmers? Ah, that’s when they pull double duty as arm warmers. No need to layer a thick long sleeved shirt under a light weight tee in anticipation of a toasty afternoon. No! You just let them walk around with adorable pink pirates on their sleeves. I challenge you to find a more versatile piece of clothing for your wee ones. Try as you may, I doubt you will find anything that rivals…the legwarmer.