What she'd think

A family member recently shared this photo on Facebook.

It got me thinking. What would childhood-Erin think of adult-Erin?

I think she'd be surprised that I married the librarian's son, and pleased to see that I found love and stability. I think she would relish the warmth in our home.

She'd be disappointed that I'm not fabulously wealthy. But happy that the lack of, pursuit of, or preoccupation with money does not dominate our home.

She'd likely wonder what happened to my daydreams of creating a band and learning to play multiple instruments. And why I hadn't yet achieved these goals in order to play on stage with Roger Waters. Yes, I thought this was a tangible goal at one point.

She might be frustrated that I don't have a perfect body. She was holding out hope that eventually she would grow into a "perfect" shape. Didn't happen, childhood-Erin. But she would hopefully be proud of how far I've come in accepting the body I do have, and pleased to see that I'm married to a man who actually thinks I do have the perfect shape.

What would she think of my mothering skills? She would probably wish that I would relax more.

Childhood-Erin probably envisioned a much more glamorous adult self, living a much more glamorous life. Instead, she grew up to be an ordinary woman living an ordinary life. But an ordinary life that is filled with love, gratitude, and happiness. And maybe that isn't so ordinary, after all.

The walking challenge

I've been walking up a storm this month as part of Anti-Automobile April, a challenge presented by blogger Mr. Money Mustache.

Mr. Money Mustache argues that in order to save money and avoid some of the pitfalls of car culture (i.e. costly repairs, crowded parking lots, etc.), people should either walk or bike when out for errands under 3-5 miles (approximately 5-8 kilometres).

Halton Hills is a small town, and most of the errands I make or destinations I frequent are within the 5-8 kilometre range. And so, I've been walking.

Walking or biking is obviously not only good for the wallet – we all know that exercise is important for our health. But it can be hard to squeeze physical activity into our day when we treat it like just another item on the to-do list.

Rather than viewing exercise as a separate errand to complete, consider walking (or biking) to the grocery store, the library, or your job site. Yes, it requires more planning, more effort. But it really is worth it. While driving offers speed and convenience, walking allows you to think, to chat with family or friends who join you, to really see your neighbourhood, to say hello to strangers passing by. And it's really, really good for your health.

Mr. Money Mustache posted the video below, highlighting the benefits of exercise – even low density activities like walking. It's worth the watch.

At the end of the month, I'll be sharing how many kilometres I ventured via car and foot. Although April is half over, it's not too late to join in the challenge! Your wallet and your heart will thank you.