An odd but satisfying NSV

My office brings in lunch a lot. I mean, a lot. We had lunch last week (sandwiches, chips, brownies) for employee appreciation, and then again today (Q'doba burrito bar) for Administrative Professionals' Day.

I get frustrated, not so much because of the food choices (there's variety, and I'm pretty good at tempering my food choices), but because lunch is usually when I try to get out and get active. During fall, winter, and spring, lunch is when I run (too hot in summer). On non-run days, lunch is for a trip to the gym and weights, or for a long walk to the park to do yoga or meditate under a tree. So these lunches tend to throw me off schedule.

Well, today we had these burritos, heavy calories, and I wanted to get in some kind of workout. So after I finished eating, I mentioned that it would be nice to take a walk. I turned to the woman next to me and said, "I think I can take some of this time and go out and walk." She agreed, and a few other people around the table joined in with their agreement.

So the next thing I know, I'm heading out the door with three other people, getting to go for a walk.

The next brief disappointment started to set in... these folks don't generally walk fast. So, I braced myself for a slow, short walk that would generally mean nothing, reminding myself that at least I was able to get outside. But it worked out that I led the way with a good friend in the office who is also very active (practices aikido and rides horses), and she and I set the pace. The other two kept up! Then, I avoided turning when I thought they would want to, and took the path I wanted to take.

So I got to have the walk I wanted, at the pace I wanted! And three other people in my office had their opportunity for health improvement. Woohoo!