by Lesley Brogan
It took me three hours and 20 minutes to walk 10 miles today. And these are some things that I am left with:
I had good shoes and socks when I set off. I had plenty of iced tea to drink and a Cliff bar to eat along the way. I walked along Mission Bay with folks who had driven and parked their cars or walked from
their homes close by. We were enjoying a beautiful Southern California day to be outside.
I guess it was about mile five or so that my feet started hurting, and I thought it wasn’t much fun. At mile seven, I was able to stop and get a fresh iced tea and go to the bathroom in a clean and safe place.
When I finished, I was very much aware that because I had an iPhone and could call ahead to someone I loved waiting for me at home, I knew I’d be able to walk into our house and know that my partner, Lori, my partner, had a tall iced tea ready for me. I could walk into our bathroom, get an ice pack or two, and put my feet up. Soon after that, I could take a nice cool shower and put on clean clothes to watch college kids play basketball in a tournament.
It was hard for me to walk 10 miles today. My feet are sore now, and my lower back hurts. I am mindful of all the privileges accompanying me on this walk today. Thanks to the OAC, I am mindful in more real and practical ways of having a glimpse of walking in another person‘s shoes.