You Need These Things. Trust Me. – EverBeautiful by Melody Lesser

Today is the second day in the past five weeks of this miserable winter that I was able to take my walk outside – and it was such a pleasure to feel the sun on my face, let alone see it. It’s been in hibernation for too long and it’s about time that it got off its lazy bum and did its job. The birds, long absent from the sky these past weeks, were busy doing bird stuff, chirping and flitting from one tree to the next. And I had my very first robin sighting of the season. Spring is definitely in the air.

I was lucky enough to have my husband’s company on this beautiful walk. He is working from home and decided to take off an hour to enjoy the great outdoors – and me! I was grateful for the company. I always enjoy my walks much more when I take them with someone I like.

We walked about four miles, by my iPhone’s calculation and, I’m not kidding, we watched the residual snow from the most recent storm melt before our eyes. I hate winter with a vengeance. Wait, that’s not entirely accurate. I hate snow and ice with a vengeance. I can deal perfectly well with low temperatures. It’s the snow and ice that leave me cold.

At any rate, it was a wonderful walk. I walked about the same distance yesterday and was completely surprised when, at 7 a.m., I woke up (I never use an alarm clock) feeling refreshed and energetic. I slept through the night for the first time in many weeks. My sleeping routine, of late, has been to go to bed at around midnight, wake up at 3:30, prowl around the house trying not to wake my husband who has to be up in a couple of hours anyway and try to get back to sleep. The latter often doesn’t work and I find that my days actually begin at 3:30 a.m. This is so not good. I slog through the day and by 3:30 in the afternoon am dragging every ounce of me through the rest of my day. But not today. There’s something about exercising in fresh air that helps me sleep and wake up refreshed.

Walking is not just something I do. I actually prepare for it. I slather on a moisturizer with an SPF, slick my lips with coconut oil, wear a good hand moisturizer (I recommend Murad) and, for me, comfort is all about my feet. They ache when I don’t take care of them. I have plantar fasciitis but, I daresay I’ve kept it in check with these long walks. I don’t know how but, whereas a year ago I couldn’t walk a block without crying from the pain, I can now do miles and miles with no pain whatsoever. I must speak with my podiatrist about this theory but for now, I’m content to credit the long walks as the cure. And here are two more things I credit … You know it’s all about the shoes and socks. When your feet hurt, the pain is visible on your face. I walk in Vionics. They help alleviate my foot pain greatly. And I pair them with Thorlos socks. I searched for weeks and weeks for padded socks that would prevent my feet from absorbing too much shock. I’m a “heavy walker” and this, plus the extremely high-arch, narrow heel structure of my foot contribute to my pain, or so I’ve been told. Well I wanted socks that would pad my foot in the right places and help prevent pain. I asked friends’ kids who are athletes but their suggestions didn’t work for me. I searched online but found nothing until I found Thorlos socks. They are my lifesaver, or at least my foot saver. And I thought they were my little secret to share with you and readers everywhere. But I guess I’m late to the game because, on one of my early walks wearing my Thorlos, I was on the phone with a friend touting their benefits when she said, “I know Thorlos. I’ve got a drawer full of them. They’re the only socks I’ll run or walk in and I’ve been wearing them for years.” Hm. Why didn’t she share that news with me years ago? Well, I’m sharing it with you. Try them out. I love them so much, I actually give them as gifts just because I want to make someone’s life more pleasant and painless.

Scroll through the following gallery to purchase my walking must haves: