How This Can Add a Mile to Your Daily Walk

A lot of us are always looking for ways to add a little extra exercise into the daily routine. I found one. A nice umbrella. It sounds crazy but I swear it works. 

Last St. Patrick's Day I went through three umbrellas in one day. Three! Why? because it was rainy and windy and they were cheap. When the first one turned inside out I tossed it and stopped in a store nearby and picked up another one for about €3. But that was no deal because within an hour or so it was in the bin as well. And yes, I bought another €3 deal that was no deal. 

Here's the real deal. A few days later it rained and I had no umbrella. But I noticed there was a very nice and very fancy umbrella I'd bought for my daughter at Christmas and forgotten to give her. U unwrapped it and opened it and was on my way. And I've been walking an extra mile a day ever since. I swear I have. 

I've left it everywhere! I've left it at the Centra Market, the bank, the gym and the coffee shop on the way to campus. I've left it at the underground on campus, in the library and in the campus pub. And I've left it at work, in the print shop and in the journalism suite. But every time I get about halfway to my next point in the day and realize it, retrace my steps and find it.

I try and remind myself as I walk away with coffee, to check I have everything. But at least once a day, sometimes twice, I realise I've left it and retrace my steps to find it. (You'd think I've become conditioned to remembering it, but so far, I haven't) And because it's a nice one, no one has taken it. I think they realise it's not a €3 umbrella, and that I would most certainly recognise it if someone else were using it.

Now it would make sense to get a collapsible one, to fold up and put in my backpack, but those don't last long in this climate. So, I've decided this one is serving a number of purposes. First, it's identifiable. I'm the lady with the fancy umbrella in a place where most people rely on hoods more than umbrellas. Second, I like it. It's strong and durable, yet graceful ( like my dragonflies) And third, it comes down to either sharpening my mind a bit to remember it, or walk a little extra to retrieve it. And in my mind that's all good.