5 + 5 = 10 Reasons To Go To Spain...With Us!

 

Even when compared to all the incredible countries in the world, Spain still has something very special to offer and should be on everyone's to-visit list. But just in case you aren't convinced, here are ten reasons to visit Spain with The Walking Connection that are sure to change your mind.  

5 Reasons To Go:

• Sunny Mediterranean climate.
• The Food!!!
• Best wines in the world.
• Idyllic beaches and charming cobblestone towns.
• A friendly welcoming culture with a ZEST for life.  

5 Reasons To Go With Us:

• Personalized Walks - as much or as little as you like.
• Peace of mind! WE GO to make sure your trip goes your way! (Gene and Jo Ann Taylor, founders of TWC will be your hosts)    
• Unique itinerary
• Luxury and value all in one.
• Your trip is about the experience. We make it happen!

 

 

 

 CHEERS!

 

Stick It!

Are excuses getting in the way of sticking with your active lifestyle?

"I’m too tired! I don’t have time! It’s too hot! It’s too cold! It’s too early! It’s too late! I have company! I’m getting company! I have to take the kids to practice! I’m too depressed! I’m celebrating! It hurts! It’s boring! I can’t go because I have to floss my teeth! (Someone really said this to me.)  Oh I’ll start on Monday!”

12 ways to help you make it stick:

• Set short term and long term realistic goals.
• Plan rewards for when you accomplish your goals.
• Vary your walk/run/bike route to avoid boredom. 
• Keep a daily log of your activities. 
• Remember all the reasons why you started in the first place.
• Think about how good you feel after you are active.
• Keep up your energy: carry healthy snacks with you wherever you go.
• Keep a pair of athletic shoes in your car, just in case an opportunity to walk arises.
• Be flexible –  have a plan B...or C.
• Focus on your successes especially when you get off track.
• Schedule time for YOU in your appointment book.
• Walk with a friend!

 

Restart

I am NOT going to talk to you about New Year's Resolutions...new year, new you, start fresh, in with the new, out with the old...blah blah blah. Anyway by now most have been forgotten.

Today is my 1538TH day of walking consecutively....

And what I want to tell you about is that twice before at the beginning of a new year I said I was going to walk every day for that year. Both times I almost made it, sometimes after I adjusted my goal a few times, but never did finish.

It wasn't until I made my goal manageable for me at that particular time in my life, that I became successful. I knew that it takes 30 days to make something a habit. So there it was, just WALK 30 days in a row. I also knew that even ten minutes of exercise has health benefits (my TMC theory). No matter how busy I am or where I am in the world I could find at least ten minutes EVERY day.

On November 2, 2009 I started my 30 day pursuit. It wasn't any special day (other than being a Monday) or the beginning of a year and there was no big event on the horizon. Just a day like any other day that holds an opportunity to make a change....

But this story is not about me, it's about...

NEVER GIVING UP! For all of you that have gotten sidetracked on any goal whether it was to walk every day, run a marathon or hike Machu Picchu, TODAY you have an opportunity to push the RESTART button. But before you do make sure it is the right goal for you. Right here. Right now.

And as always I invite you to...

Come Walk With Me!

 

Beyond Words

Believe it or not I have been at a loss for words ever since my return from Australia...(my husband Gene can't believe it.) This unusual phenomenon was created by two interconnecting events: the response from all of you for A World Wide Walk on November 1st and my personal adventure in Tasmania celebrating my four years of walking.        

I was off the grid for 6 days as I hiked the Overland Track with Cradle Mountain Huts Walk (more on that in a future blog) so I had no idea what was going on in the rest of the world. My focus was zeroed in on putting one foot in front of the other. I kept reminding myself to be present in MY moment. I was purposeful in appreciating where I was and making sure that I took the time to stop, look, listen.and sometimes rest...

 

 

The first night I got back to "civilization" I refused to turn on any kind of computerized device. I wanted to hold on to my experience, relive it over and over and relish in my accomplishment back on the track.

 

Finally I plugged in. 

 

And there it was comment after comment, post after post, photo after photo (click here)...I started reading out loud to Gene. Suddenly I stopped. Gene concerned asked, "What's wrong?" I could hardly speak and choked out, "Im so happy...THEY WALKED!!!"           

 

Now more than ever I am both inspired and determined that next year will be even BIGGER and BETTER. I hope you will join in...

 

Come Walk With Me!         

 

Thank you to Cradle Mountain Huts Walk, Great Walks of Australia, Tourism Tasmania, Qantas Airlines, Cintamani

and all of YOU for making this a reality

 

Walkin' In A Dream

I love being outdoors, but I don't think of myself as "outdoorsy". I am NOT a backpacker and I do NOT camp. Gene and I tried camping once in rainy upstate NY. We packed up our stuff in the middle of the night and found a dry motel.  

I have been very spoiled over my years of planning trips for the Walking Connection. The closest I get to roughing it is a luxury permanent tented camp in Africa. My experience with long multi day hikes has been where a helicopter picks you up when you get tired and brings you back to the lodge where there is a hot tub with a spectacular view! (aka: Heli-hike) 

When I first heard about hiking the 6 day iconic Overland Track in Tasmania, Australia with Cradle Mountain Huts and saw that I could hike all day, finish with a hot shower, eat a gourmet meal maybe even with a glass of fine Tasmanian wine and sleep in a comfy hut with heat, I thought "I would like to do that!" 

My other wish was that I wanted to do it for me. Not have to keep up with anyone or be assigned to bring up the rear (unless it was my own). Not take care of anyone else, only worry about whether I could make it...So I threw that dream out into the universe...

 

 

...Now here I am packing my gear wondering how I can possibly survive bringing everything I will need for 6 days in a 20 lb.backpack that I will have to carry.  Am I excited? Yes. Nervous? Yes. Do I feel totally ready? Uh...no. Am I going to do it anyway? YES...And love every minute of it!
 

So in a few days I will be making my way down under to Tasmania. Flying a zillion miles to celebrate my walking every day in a row for four years. The exciting news is that this World Wide Walk on Nov. 1st is the kick off to a year long promotion where you could win a trip for two walking with me in Tasmania next year.  WHOO HOO!  

 

I hope you will all join me this year on Nov. 1st by walking anywhere, any place YOU are. It doesn't have to be far or fast, just a walk with purpose Just A Walk For YOU! 

ComeWalk With Me! 
 

Thank you to Cradle Mountain Huts Walk, Great Walks of Australia,

Tourism Tasmania, Qantas Airlines and to all of YOU for keeping me inspired

Rock On!

Someone once told Gene and I that one day when we are old and grey and sitting in our rockers, we would at least have so many wonderful memories to share...

  Africa safari (Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana)

 

Float down the Amazon River - Sail the Greek Islands

Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

 

Complete a half marathon - RaceWALK a 5k in under 9 minutes/mile 

Complete a marathon

Hike on a glacier (Canada, Iceland, New Zealand) -  Heli-hike (about 25 times!)

Climb the red sand dunes of Namibia

 

 

Polar Bear viewing in Churchill - Explore Alaska
 Walk among the wildlife of the Galapagos Islands

 

Write a book (Come Walk With Me)
Produce a video (Getting the Most from your Walk)

Hike around the Matterhorn in Switzerland. 

 

Kayak (Alaska, Galapagos, Cook Islands, Thailand) - Go to Tasmania

Hike on the Great Wall of China

 

 Whale Watch (Namibia, Alaska, Sea of Cortez, Hawaii, California) 

Visit the Arctic Circle (Grimsey Island) -  Pet whales (Magdalena Bay, MX)

 

Walk to the 5 villages of Cinque Terre, Italy
 View the Northern Lights (Canada & Iceland)

Stand on the Equator (Kenya & Ecuador)

 

Tiger Safari by Elephant (Didn't see a tiger, so I have to go back to India)

Hot air balloon ride (Kenya & Arizona)
Snorkel (Cook Islands, Galapagos, Thailand)

 

 

 

Stand on a reed island in Lake Titicaca - Walk Stonehenge

Canoe the Okavango Delta, Botswana

 

 Travel in luxury on an Orient Express Train (Puno to Cusco, Peru) 

Whitewater raft (Peru & Canada)

Sit on a yak (Shangri La, China)

 

 

Sky dive (albeit indoors, but someone in my life is STRONGLY opposed to me jumping out of an airplane and therefore I have no proof other than my eye witnesses Ena Nielsen and Kitty Nielsen - what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!)

Cheers and here's to making more memories... 

Rock On!

 

Motivation vs. Habit

.

When I started my daily consecutive walks (1363 days ago), I was trying to find a way to motivate myself. I had hit a slump, a bump in the road...my lazy side had snuck in. I needed something new not only to get me (re)started but to keep me going as well.   I had heard that it takes 30 days to form a habit. So I decided that I would set a goal of walking every day for 30 days even if I could only fit in ten minutes. (Ten Minutes Counts) At 30 days I had to get to 60, then 90 needed to be rounded up to 100. How could I just stop then? So I didn't...     "Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going." Sometimes you need something to push you to get the wheels rolling again. Setting a goal can be very motivating. I knew that I always felt better physically and mentally when I was active, but I needed a little challenge. I didn't even tell anyone what I was doing for the first few weeks. I had to prove to myself that I was up to the task and could keep the dark side of laziness in check. My goal of walking every day helped me form a healthy habit. And once something becomes a habit, good or bad, it is hard to break. I can not, NOT walk no matter how creative I have to be to try and fit it in. No longer is there a question of IF, it's only a when and where. But I will leave that for another blog. For now... HAPPY WALKING! .