Joe Dimaggio had a 56 game hitting streak in 1941. Cal Ripken Jr. played 2,632 consecutive game from 1982 - 1998. Edwin Moses ran the 400 meter hurdles and won 122 times in a row during the years 1977 - 1987. Glenn Hall backstopped 502 consecutive games in the NHL from 1955 - 1962. These streaks represent unmatched dominance and endurance in sports.

John C Maxwell said - “Small disciplines repeated with consistency every day lead to great achievement gained slowly over time.”

On a personal note - I love keeping track of my daily distances. I never imagined that exactly one year ago my current streak of walking at least 10,000 steps daily would begin but here we are one year later and I’ve done it.

A very long time ago (2009) I took a few courses through CanFitPro in order to become a fitness instructor and personal trainer. I loved the courses and taught fitness for the next several years. One of the things I learned then and continue to put into practice today is to set SMART GOALS. #1. Specific (define your goals clearly so you know exactly what you’re working toward). #2. Measurable (decide how you will track your progress). #3. Achievable (make sure your goal is realistic based on your abilities and abilities). #4. Relevant (make sure your goal aligns with your daily priorities). #5. Time (keep focused and motivated for a specific period). Be SMART.

My daily physical goal is to walk 10,000 steps daily. I used to be a runner but because I suffered a hamstring injury in 2019 - I don’t run anymore. I’ve made my peace about not running anymore. Now I walk and play pickle ball. (My mom would be pleased! She never loved that I ran so much!) Between the two sports - the steps add up in a hurry.

There are so many benefits from walking and getting your heart rate up. Walking will trim your waistline and improve your overall health. The Mayo clinic says - walking will -

Maintain a healthy weight and lose body fat
Prevent or manage various conditions, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer and type 2 diabetes
Improve cardiovascular fitness
Strengthen your bones and muscles
Improve muscle endurance
Increase energy levels
Improve your mood, cognition, memory and sleep
Improve your balance and coordination
Strengthen immune system
Reduce stress and tension

There's an old saying that if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together. I do walk alone but I’d rather walk with a friend. My friend - Julie and I - (the friend who I’ve talked into doing some wild adventures with - climbing Mount Christoffel in Curacao - going to a pickle ball weekend at a camp that didn’t have running water for the first 24 hours and no wifi unless you climbed a tree and held your breath etc) - try to walk together a few times a month. It was Julie who helped me train for my Camino walk two summers ago. We’re good for each other. We moved to Kincardine around the same time - 10 years ago - both of us have trained for and completed triathlons and running events - both of us are in a second relationship - both of us love cycling (slowly) - both of us work out with weights - both of us play pickle ball - both of us love reading and discussing the books we’ve read - and most important - both of us can fill a couple of hours of walking with great conversation. And then after walking for two hours, we stand at the corner before we split for our respective homes and talk some more. I always feel better after our walks and talks. Julie has completed a few streaks of her own of which I’m extremely proud of her. She’s an inspiration to me.

In saying all these things about walking and achieving my personal goal of 10,000 steps a day for the past year - I must be clear that while I believe physical exercise is excellent - my greater goal is my inner self - my spiritual self. There would be no point of being in the most awesome physical shape if my soul - my inner self - was unkind and mean. I must “train” myself to the daily consistency of loving others - being grateful - joy filled living and being an encourager. It’s my desire to “hate what is evil and hold fast to what is good - to show honour - to rejoice in hope - show patience and bless others.” May I measure these things with great consistency - even more than the physical steps I take.

Just like Dimaggio and Ripken and Hall’s streaks eventually ended - I expect my streak to come to an end this Saturday. I’ll be in Costa Rica on the missions trip and our Saturday schedule is the long bus ride into the interior of the jungle (think 4:45 am - 4:00 pm) so there won’t be much time for walking. And that’s okay! There’s always next week to begin a new streak. It was fun while it lasted.