Old Routine, New Fit

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“I am still in the process of growing up, but I will make no progress if I lose any of myself along the way.” – Madeleine L’Engle

I’m sore. Do you ever do the thing where you go back to doing something you used to do all the time only to find out it feels totally different?

On Saturday morning, I was gifted a few free hours because my kids wanted to have a babysitter. Before I had kids, I used to spend almost every Saturday morning either hiking or doing my favorite sets of stairs, the Capital Hill stairs – 13 flights for a total of 290 stairs for each ascent. And descent, of course that is obvious, but as a math person, I couldn’t just let it go. Anyway – with free hours on a Saturday morning, the Capital Hill stairs seemed like an obvious thing to do.

As I was doing them, I felt how long it’s been. I’ve changed and grown (rounder, mostly) and finding my rhythm was hard and uncomfortable. My legs felt leaden, my knees stiff. There is a beautiful garden next to the top third of the stairs created by Ann and Dan, a couple that bought two properties there in the 1960’s, one for their house and one for the garden. Then they gifted the land with the garden to the City in the late 1990’s. Next to the garden was a plaque that commemorated that history and noted Dan’s passing at age 96 in 2020.

As I noticed all these differences, including the fact that I’ve lost my ability to sip from my water bottle while on the go without spilling all over myself, I started to feel all the versions of myself that have done the stairs. The 20-something woman who was building confidence for climbing mountains, the 30-something woman who was trying to keep in touch with that adventurous part of herself that her husband had little interest in, the 40-something woman working out her comfort with discomfort after divorce. All the way to now, the 50-something woman using a set of stairs to remember where she’s been.

Soon enough all the lessons I’ve learned about doing stairs came back to me. Take one step at a time, go slowly using a barely perceptible rest step when it gets hard, and pause for a deep breath before the last 90 stairs.

Yes, I’m sore today. But it seemed like a worthwhile exercise to find out that as I change and grow, my hard won lessons go with me.

Speaking of growth and change, I have a companion piece posted on The Heart of the Matter this morning, Growing Like a Weed.

62 thoughts on “Old Routine, New Fit”

  1. Pingback: Growing Like a Weed – The Heart of the Matter

  2. I must say that I hope my hard learned wisdom would come back to me around stair 25 so I could simply turn around and descend again 😉 I think there’s a metaphor here Wynne, as those stairs represent each decade you described and I love that representation and that you can make it up and back down 🙂 I love “my hard earned lessons go with me” and yes they do if we keep our awareness of ourselves in place and remember to draw from it as the years pass. Now maybe take a few Tylenol… 😉

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    1. Oh, I’m laughing! Well, I used to do them 7 times – this time I only did 3 sets so perhaps I’m learning… 🙂

      And thanks for the Tylenol advice, Dr. Deb. I think you might be on the right track there!

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      1. Well now I feel very inadequate…

        I used to take the stairs at work, both the parking garage and inside the hospital up to the 3rd floor then reverse, but I had an entire work day in between so no thank you to 7 times…actually even 3 times @ what was it- 290 steps. Nope 😉

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      2. Ah yes – but you had to walk the whole day in between whereas I work sitting down! I bet you’d love these steps. Let me know next time you are in Seattle and we’ll do a set! 🙂

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  3. LOL. The harsh realities of balancing being able to keep up our fitness levels while committed to MANY other responsibilities! Hopefully it’s a “good” soreness.

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  4. Go, Wynne…and I loved the reminiscing…despite the aches…and your use of the stairs as a way to remind yourself of where you’ve been…who you were at different stages as you faced those exact 290 steps. 🥰🥰🥰

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    1. Oh, thanks for the encouragement, my dear friend. I’m glad you liked my math joke! As I told Deb, I used to do them 7 times – this time only three – I guess I didn’t need as many sets to reminisce all my stages…. 🙂

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      1. LOL! We’ve both got achy legs…which, btw, thanks for the tip (was it from Deirdre?) about icing my wonky ankle after riding the spin bike and a little Aleve before. It’s helping! See – now you’re also a trainer! Who does math! 😎😎😎

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  5. I think it also says heaps that you kept going, reaching the top, even if you did end up wearing some of the water. Exactly as you said, you’re different, you’ve learned and grown – and in many ways you’re stronger.

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  6. Like others have said, I love how the stair serves as a touch-point for you through all stages of life. I have a particular hiking trail that’s similar for me and there is something so powerful about returning to where you’ve been when the site remains unchanged, yet we have changed.

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  7. If a person grows, as you do, Wynne, she is learning, observing, touching and being touched; taking on some difficult climbs and wise enough to set others aside. I don’t give grades, but I am happy for you.

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  8. “ Soon enough all the lessons I’ve learned about doing stairs came back to me. Take one step at a time, go slowly using a barely perceptible rest step when it gets hard, and pause for a deep breath before the last 90 stairs.” –

    So very useful, thanks Wynne 👌

    Liked by 3 people

  9. You put a smile on my face when you say that you’ve lost the ability to sip from your water bottle while on the go without spilling all over yourself. It always happens to me dear Wynne, I definitely need to stop if I want to drink properly!

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  10. The Capital Hill steps sound like a trail near where I grew up that has 1,000 steps and winds its way up a steep mountain. I’ve written about the trail and how I like to walk it each year — sort of an annual rite of passage to see how I’m doing. I love the perspective that you bring. I find I always have to fight my own thoughts – “Oh, I need too many breaks now” or “Oh, I’m way out of breath now.” I need to take your advice when I walk it later this year. Thanks Wynne!!!

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  11. I’m aiming to get back into walking starting this week, now that it’s warmed up enough. This post was a lovely self-reflection on your journey.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. I feel your pain. I’m diving back into swimming tomorrow after taking the winter off. I had hoped to get back sooner, but life and COVID happened. I’m proud of your accomplishment and courage.

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  15. Well, Wynne. I admire you for tackling those stairs. I consider myself to be in decent enough shape, but stairs absolutely kill me. During my recent tornado-warning adventure at O’Hare Airport, I had to lug my suitcase up a long flight of stairs because the escalator had been turned off. I thought I was going to drop. Thank goodness it was a small under-seater suitcase. LOL

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    1. Oh, that sounds like a tough exercise to have to do stairs with a suitcase in tow. Even a small one is awkward to carry! Glad those tornado-warning adventures don’t happen every day!

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  17. Oh that is a beautiful paragraph you wrote Wynne of the stairs being climbed by the different stages of your life. Just a lovely piece of writing!

    And how I envy you having a babysitter for a few hours! 😆 Sounds like you made the most of it!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Ab. What a wonderful compliment that really means a lot to me.

      The funny thing about the babysitter is that the kids picked the babysitter and then basically told me to get out. I hightailed it out that door so I didn’t have to be told twice. 🙂

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  18. The fact that you even want to climb almost 300 steps as a fifty something requires applause. A few steps up and down a ladder are enough for me sometimes. 🤣 (I’ve been painting). And as for sipping from a bottle while walking, that’s behind me too. Not the walking, but the sipping. 🤣 I’ll try to keep the walking up so I don’t get any rounder. Loved it, including your wisdom. So true. 🌸

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    1. What a wonderful comment, Alegria – you have me nodding and chuckling. Painting is hard work – but can be so satisfying! I hope (and I’m guessing you are because its you), that you are enjoying the process. 🙂 ❤

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  19. Thanks Wynne. That’s really helpful. I certainly identify with the ages and stages… identifying what you can do and being grateful, rather than bemoaning what you can’t do… reflecting on lessons learnt from previous stages… and enjoying today’s gifts rather than worrying about tomorrow’s uncertainties.

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    1. Oh, I love how you’ve put it, Malcom. Ages and stages – right! And yes, to be grateful for what we can. It takes a little work to remember that but life is so much more enjoyable that way!

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  20. I will attest, growing older does come with physical challenges, and after any little illness, even the sniffles, the physical setbacks are more and more noticeable! It does take determination to keep up one’s fitness levels as we age, but the efforts are worth it, for that will pay dividends when we get even older!

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    1. How interesting that both hiking and certain places bring that reflection for you too! Next time you come to Seattle, come do the Capital Hill steps with me! 🙂

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  23. Lovely post, Wynne. I love the paragraph about you climbing the stairs through each decade and your observation.
    I agree with your conclusion,” Yes, I’m sore today. But it seemed like a worthwhile exercise to find out that as I change and grow, my hard won lessons go with me.”
    I find growing old has its own charm. Granted that some parts of my body work slower, but the plus is they still work! The lessons I have learnt the hard way through all the decades of my life help me put things into perspective.
    Love

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    1. Chaya!! It’s so good to see you!! You are so right about that perspective. And I’m so grateful you are back and I get to hear it again. Sending lots of love! ❤ ❤ ❤

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  24. The photo—too beautiful to imagine, and the story? Too true to ignore—and so beautifully told. I love the romp (climb?) through the decades and your awareness of the depth of each one, and each step.

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    1. What a beautiful comment, Julia! Isn’t it nice that our lessons get to come with us? And if we’ve properly digested them, I don’t think they even weigh us down much! 🙂 Thanks, my dear friend! ❤

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