My life would be better if...

If you could pick just one thing, what would make your life better? It’s easy to say “Winning the lottery,” but let’s be realistic.

I’ve asked around and answers include:

Decluttering my house, or even just my wardrobe

Getting my finances in order

Spending more time with my family

Getting a dog (but at my age??)

Getting my book published – or even just finished!

The answer is never about having something, buying something (a bigger car, a gold bangle) or even going somewhere (that round the world cruise…) For me, the life changing answer is:

If I were fitter, healthier and stronger.

I hesitate to add “before it’s too late”, because of course it’s never too late, or too early. But something tells me I have a window of time within which to make a good start on getting stronger, fitter and more flexible. Because the alternative is getting weaker, less fit and stiffer – and who wants that? It really doesn’t sit with how I see myself, my life, now or in the future.

But if I do nothing, that will be my reality.

This life enhancing resolution which I make on January 1st every year is actually in my power, in my own hands, right now. I could sign up for a sponsored walk, train for a 5K, join a gym or the local Nordic walking group.... but I don't. Then I have to take a breath and ask myself “So what’s stopping you, Kate?” Well, it's my feet. Or rather one toe on one foot. Painful feet are not one of the Joys of Sixty but I did say we wouldn't gloss over the challenges here...

I always thought I was fit enough because I could walk quite a distance with no problem. I knew I should add in other forms of exercise, but I felt complacent. Then I got a sore big toe, which has become a stiff, painful, arthritic toe. It doesn’t sound much, it almost sounds laughable, but if I don’t do something soon, it will be my Achilles Heel (pun intended, sorry!) It is already stopping me going for walks, and I now jump in the car even for short distances and park as close as possible to my destination. I never thought that would happen to me.

My first reaction was to …… buy more shoes! In the last few weeks I have bought five pairs of footwear – including three pairs of trainers, two of which are black. I cannot pass a shoe shop (especially with a summer sale) without going in and trying a pair on. If they fit and seem comfortable, I always buy them with the justification that my poor feet ‘need’ them. One pair is already on its way to a charity shop after skinning my heels to the point of blisters in one afternoon.

I was confessing my shoe extravaganza (and we’re not talking high heels and fashion here…) to a friend who simply said “Why don’t you see a podiatrist?” Well, knock me down with my own shoelaces, that had never occurred to me; I thought new shoes solved every problem but I’m now having to adjust my world view.

So, I am booked in for a foot pain consultation and gait analysis. Of course it costs, but only about as much as two more pairs of trainers so I will just have to avoid the sales for the next three weeks and walk (limp?) past the shoe shops until I get a professional opinion. It’s a relief already. In the meantime there is nothing stopping me going for a swim, continuing my Qigong routine at home and using my fitness bands to improve my strength.

What would make your life better and what can you do today to start the process?

Let me know in the Comments section and let's have a discussion!