Last week the temperature dipped to 30 below—our first cold snap of the season.
The sun was going to set soon, and besides cracking the door open to get a draft for the woodstove, I hadn’t had any fresh air all day.
I do most of my writing on a treadmill so I’d had a lot of movement, but no real exercise. (I can walk 1.5 miles an hour and still type. It keeps my back happy.) I wanted to go running, but running at 30 below is hard on your body. The bottoms of your shoes lose all their spring. (And no way was I going to run on the treadmill after walking on it all day!)
I decided to go for a walk instead. It’s much easier on the body.
I’d been walking for about ten minutes when I heard footsteps behind me. It was my neighbor. My eighty year-old neighbor. Running.
He doesn’t run fast, and he’s always hunched over, but he runs every day. I often see him on our road, but have also seen him as far away as three miles from home.
We’ve exchanged a few words over the nine years I’ve lived in the neighborhood, but mostly we just wave at each other.
One spring when I was trying to keep our road from washing out (as you can see, I failed), I ran into his wife and learned that he had started running late in life, after being very ill.
A day rarely passes when I don’t think about him. He’s an everyday hero who inspires me to keep pushing myself in all areas of my life. I’ve told all my friends and family, near and far, about him.
Do you have any everyday heroes in your life? Who are they? How do they inspire you?
Great story, Paul. I think your neighbor is a hero to me and I haven’t even met him. Just hearing about him makes me WISH I knew him. 🙂
My hero is my son. He has fought against the odds his entire life. Born with a rare brain disorder. And he keeps fighting. Every day. I am very proud to know him. He inspires me when he laughs despite having tremendous problems in his life. He can’t drive, his reaction time is slow. But he is so very happy. He’s had a lot of seizures (30-35 in a day) Though he’s seizure free, he is having dizziness now. But no matter what, the guy is happy to be alive. He’s truly my hero. I love him so much. Hopefully they will find out the cause for the dizziness. I really couldn’t live life without my inspiration. 🙂
Super post. Thanks. 🙂
Robyn, thanks for sharing your story. Your son sounds like an amazing person! An inspiration to everyone! I hope he gets relief from his dizziness soon.
I love that you write while on the treadmill. I tried that once, but almost broke my neck. I am not coordinated enough to manage it.
The snow and scenery is beautiful in your photos. Despite the cold, it is refreshing to get outside. It always clears my head and gives me a burst of energy. I don’t run either. Walking is my limit. I am too afraid of falling. It’s that coordination issue again.
Great post. Almost makes me want some snow. Almost…
I’d love to try that treadmill thing. I rigged a desk onto my CloudWalker, but it didn’t quite work. My camper has no room for a treadmill, unfortunately. But writing is wildly sedentary.
I have tons of heroes. Actually, I find a bit of a hero in everyone, and make a note to myself to follow that example. And now I can’t think of one particular story… 🙂
Paul, you are amazing. I find myself blogging these days hoping you’ll stop by and share a bit of your wisdom with me. Thank you for being you and for sharing YOU with me and everyone else.
It’s so cool you write on your treadmill. I’ve never heard of anyone doing that!
Your neighbor is an inspiration. My Uncle Paul comes to mind when you ask about an everyday hero in my life.
Twenty two years ago my Mom was dying of cancer. My family got together for Thanksgiving, and to say goodby mom as she was not expected to live until Christmas. Uncle Paul was a bit of a celebrity (several small movie roles and a regular at the Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, Canada where we’re all from.) It was always a treat when he came.
Uncle Paul brought Mom a gift. A tiny bottle of extraordinarily expensive perfume. And Mom cried. It wasn’t the perfume, but that touched her so–but that Paul thought enough of the life she had left, to celebrate it. While the rest of us were focused on her passing, HE focused on her life. The woman, her presence.
I have never forgotten the gift Uncle Paul gave Mom–the gift of love, the gift of NOW.
♥
Inspiring story! I like the treadmill idea but like Rae I’m not sure if I could multi-task that way without doing myself bodily harm.
With the cold weather in mind-I’d have to say that my everyday hero is my hub. He often comes in from work in the winter with actual icicles hanging from his beard. I couldn’t work outside in that kind of cold. Brrr… 🙂
Writing on the treadmill. You’re full of new concepts. How long do you walk/write? Sounds like something I’d like to try.
As far as heroes go, your neighbor reminds me of a a 70 year-old by the name of Ken Mink. Last year he played on a junior college basketball ream. He actually scored a few points. What a stud!
Rae, I’m glad that you get out and walk. Fresh air clears my brain, too.
Spyscribbler, that you find a bit of a hero in everyone is very inspiring!
ali, thanks for the kind words, and for sharing your story. Your Uncle sounds like an amazing person! What a gift for you to know him. Thanks for sharing a little of him with us.
Deb, icicles on the nose! I’ve experienced that a few times, but not on a regular basis. That’s pretty hardcore.
WZ–Ken Mink. I’ll have to look him up. He sounds very inspiring and unique.
Regarding the treadmill questions, I’ll do a future post on it in detail.
I like your story and pics. It looks so beautiful there! I’m a wimp in cold weather, so being able to see the cold without having to experience it is great. 🙂 My husband is from Wisconsin, by the way, so he grew up with cold weather, too.
One of my real life heroes is my mom. She’s truly good, and she’s so full of love and support. She’s kind, empathetic, nurturing, and extremely positive, whether things are going her way or not. I’d like to be like my mom. My dad, too. He’s also my hero. He’s super funny, loving, protective, and incredibly smart.
Nice post. 🙂
First of all, I’m glad I don’t live in Fairbanks! I’ve lived in Alaska since 1985, but I’m still a wimp if the thermometer dips past fifteen below.
Secondly, you are a rockstar in my book for being able to type and run at the same time. I wish I could do that!
And your neighbor is awesome! Talk about one cool dude! (Pardon the pun!)
I’m not coordinated enough to walk on the treadmill, let alone walk and type. I love the fact that 30-below is the first cold snap. I don’t think we’ve even had a 30-above day yet this year.
I think there are heroes all over the place if people are willing to look. Where I used to live, I knew someone who had lost both of his legs, below the knee due to a car accident. He had prosthetic legs, and was always out getting his exercise, running, walking, in all kinds of weather. Even when everyone else was making excuses for why they couldn’t get outside.
Dawn, your parents sound like amazing people.
Stephanie, just to clarify. I don’t run on the treadmill while I write. I walk very slowy, about 1.5 miles per hour. My neighbor is a cool dude. I think he’s the real rockstar.
Alissa. I think you are right. There are heroes everywhere. I think recognizing them and being in touch with how amazing they are is the hard part. The person you describe sounds extraordinary.
80 and still running that’s encouraging, we have a guy in our community who is 70 and still plays soccer.
I can’t decide which is most amazing – the 30 BELOW temps (you did say below, right?), the writing on a treadmill or the elderly neighbor out running.
All of it is pretty cool stuff.
And, I, too, have an elderly neighbor. He’s 84 and we get together once a week for a brown bag lunch. It’s good for the soul to connect to someone who has so much to share.
So I read your post to my husband after I saw you had a cold snap at 30 below. 30 BELOW???? We had a cold snap last week and it hit 45 at night. We about died. Brrr.
So you can be my hero today that you actually live in a place like that!
Wow! A treadmill writer! Clever. Enjoyed the post.
i’ve heard of this concept of the treadmill writing desk. note to self: look into this more in depth.
jeannie
The Character Therapist
I know what you mean about the weather. It just dipped below 70 here this week and I had to put the convertible top up. 😉
Great story. Inspiration can be found everywhere–normal people overcoming impossible circumstances.
That’s so awesome. I wouldn’t even leave the house if it was that cold!
A friend of mine was diagnosed with cervical cancer this year. She’s 24. Instead of letting it take control of her, she got an amazing new job in another city and is having a great time making new friends. Also, she’s the most positive person I know.
That is so inspiring, Paul. When we think of someone doing something like that everyday, after an illnes, and at his age, in 30 degrees below zero, that ought to make us take second thought at what we’re really capable of!
What an inspiring story.
My grandma just turned 80. She’s been overweight and a little depressed for the past 40 years. Just in the last year she’s started walking 3 or 4 miles a day and volunteering 5 days a week (teaching kids to read and working at the hospital). She’s so happy now and I just hope I can do as much as she does when I’m 80.
Natalie, There is a lot to be learned from your Grandma. That’s amazing.
Jade, your friend sounds very courageous.
Tess, you are inspiring me to reach out a little more to my neighbor. Thanks!
I like the idea of walking while you write. It probably keep you warm. I alternate between sitting on an exercise ball and slouching on the couch. I like your set up. And the walking and running in the cold I think is the only way to make it through a winter–although now that I found hot yoga, it is slowly taking over. It’s much easier to go into the heat, than start out in the cold–for me anyway.
You know, I always thought it would be a great idea to rig a treadmill so I could use it while writing. I may have to look into this again!
Wow, running at 80! God bless him. That’s amazing.
yeah you – now that I know you run while writing! that’s sick!
Actually, I walk very slowly on the treadmill. About 1.5 mph. But, when I run outside I get some of my best ideas.
Paul, I love the treadmill idea. I will see if my hubby can fix something like that for me. Your neighbor sounds amazing! My heroes are all of the people I talk to every day that are dealing with chronic pain and illness or healing from abusive childhoods. They work so hard to overcome and find ways to lead as normal a life as they can. When they were still alive, my grandparents were my heroes. They were the most loving, accepting and caring people I ever met. I miss them every day.