Inspiring Women Magazine May 2021

down the computer and cook up a storm almost
every day. I also spend time outdoors, walking
around the farm taking photos or sitting in the sun
reading. Sunshine and exercise both stimulate
production of serotonin, which is important to
wellness AND well-being.
An alternative life
Out walking with Serge
walks, since dog-walking is still allowed under
lockdown in some countries. Although it was an
enormous pleasure to announce at the Edinburgh
Conference that Club members had virtually
walked the circumference of the earth, we’ve put
aside any immediate goals such as virtually
walking the Camino de Santiago and are happy to
see Club members getting out, or even staying in
and participating in ANY exercise activities to
maintain physical and mental wellness.
Tips for living a healthy life
Even if you are a busy city dweller, and are not
tempted by what you might consider aimless
strolls in the countryside or feel you don’t have
time for them, you can add walking (or more
walking) to your daily life in town. If you have
somewhere to be, allow an extra 40 minutes
before and after and either park your car
somewhere approximately three kilometers away,
or get off (and back on) the public transport one
or two stops from your destination. Allow enough
time not to have to rush, which might cause
stress. The most important thing about walking
and health is to be consistent, even if you are a
slow walker.
If I could change the past, I would bring my
mother back so she could see what I have done
with my life. She died of myocardiopathy at the
age of 62, only two years after I married, and long
before we adopted our daughters. I have what’s
known as a floppy heart valve, and the year I
turned 62 was a difficult one for me, as I
wondered if I would live longer than my mother.
My younger sister also died of heart disease at
only 63, but I’m now in my 70s, and if I continue to
follow a heart-healthy diet and get regular
exercise by walking, I expect to be around for
quite a while yet. I only wish that my mom could
have shared another 20 years with us.
A dream of mine
I would love to walk with Jean-François Bernardini,
of the Corsican singing group I Muvrini. I adore
Corsican music and I dream of going to Corsica. I
would be in absolute heaven if I could wander the
wilds of Corsica while listening to one of the
“mouflon” brothers singing while we walked, but I
might be so enraptured that I wouldn’t watch
where I was going, and might fall off a cliff. By the
way, there’s a wealth of information on the
internet about famous people and celebrities who
enjoyed walking. Did you know, though, that
Robert Louis Stevenson walked with a donkey
named Modestine in the Cevennes hills of France?
He wrote a book about it called Travels with a
Donkey in the Cevennes and there is even a trail
named after him.
My lifestyle
I used to walk to meetings in Montpellier, but inperson
meetings are a distant memory. I now
spend too much time sitting in front of a
computer, and although I’m walking less, I’m living
in farm country and eating healthier. My mother
taught me to cook “from scratch” rather than
using a mix.
In an apartment-dorm at college, I tried to impress
others with my cooking skills. I’ve now reached a
stage in life where I try to impress myself, so I shut
Walking with my family
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