I got a bigger reminder. This turtle necklace is to remind me to take consistent smaller steps.

A few months ago, you may remember, I went for a run. I really wanted to feel that exertion and sweat. It worked, I felt both. I ran a mile, then walked a bit and ran another mile. I thought, wow maybe I was ready for this sooner and I didn’t realize. I was walking a lot more. For me it did not feel like a hard run.

Within 48-hours all my leg muscles got so tight, caves, quads, hamstrings, glutes, and into my lower back.

I’m okay, but it took me over two weeks to relax those muscles and stretch them out. It was a setback. I wasn’t able to do all my movements in my morning routine. I wasn’t able to go on the walks I have really enjoyed.

I went back to focusing on the turtle .

Step-by-step, stretch-by-stretch, I’ve gained back my flexibility and range of motion.

Now, next time I go for a run I will mostly walk and try a quarter mile, see how that feels for a few days or a week. Then add more if I’d like.

Going from not being able to walk to doing so was a great accomplishment. In order to do that I had to learn to stand again first.

I will keep taking it step-by-step and I’m sure I can do anything. Slowly!! 

And now I have a new necklace to remind me.

I am grateful for another lesson and grateful to take it slow enough to notice.

What things do you ‘over-do’ in your life? If you broke them down into smaller steps, what would that look like? Feel like? Have you tried?