Chasing Pavement

If you've been a reader of this blog for long, you know that I love walking. It used to be a routine of mine -- my "artful walks."

You also know that I have been unable to walk very much since I developed Ankylosing Spondylitis, a form of autoimmune, inflammatory arthritis that attacks my hips and spine, and many other joints.

Recently I started feeling better - closer to my old self than I had in a long time. I could walk without limping and without a cane. I only needed to be in bed to sleep, I was living life awake, out loud, and enjoying every minute of it. I knew I would eventually flare up again, so I determined to make as many memories as I could before landing back in a flare.

Yesterday morning I woke up at 5:45 wanting to walk. I got dressed in the dark, trying not to disturb my husband Jonathan, grabbed my iPhone and headphones, laced up my walking shoes I haven't worn in maybe a year, and headed out. I saw the sun rise, took pictures of beautiful things I came across, walked with long, happy strides, and listened to Pandora. My soul was beaming and my face probably was too.

I walked well over a mile, which felt so familiar even after being out of my walking routine for so long, and I tell you, it felt like flying. 

One of the songs that came on during my walk was Chasing Pavements by Adele. While most of the lyrics had nothing to do with my life or my walk, this line stood out to me:

Should I give up,
Or should I just keep chasin' pavements?

I felt so free and alive and filled with hope -- flares would come again, but so would times like this and I could rest in flares, knowing that somewhere around the corner, was another chance to fly.

to be continued...