Lois Flowers

Several months ago, the treadmill I had used for more than 18 years gave out on me.

This trusty (and somewhat rusty) machine with zero bells and whistles—the same one that moved with us four times across two states and into who knows how many different rooms of all our houses—didn’t simply fail to start one morning.

It stopped abruptly. When I was running.

Somehow, I managed to stay upright. That alone was a workout miracle—who knows the damage I would have sustained had I fallen off.

We suspected the treadmill was nearing the end of its life, so Randy had already begun researching replacements. He gave me a list of options, and I went to the sporting goods store and ordered one of them.

It was considerably more expensive than the used one we bought at Play It Again Sports in Fayetteville, Ark., all those years ago. If this one lasts another 18 years, though, the cost spread out over all those months would still be less than a gym membership. Plus, I figure the benefits running provides to my mental health far outweigh the one-time expense.

Not surprisingly, as I think about what I’ve learned this winter, a few treadmill-related lessons are at the top of the list.

• Running uphill on a treadmill is hard. My old machine had a manual incline, so I never used it. One of my fitness goals (and I use that term very loosely) is to get stronger, and I’m hoping running on a slant will help with that. Of course, the way I feel when I push the button to raise it ever so slightly, you’d think I had it set at a 65-degree angle. (If you have any tips about the best way to use the incline feature to improve strength, please share them in the comments.)

• I can read a book without reading the ending first. If you’ve been with me for a while, you may recall that I read books on the treadmill, AND that I always read the end of said books first. I had a stand for actual books on my old treadmill, but right now, all I have is a place for a tablet, so I’ve been reading e-books from the library. Since there are no pages to flip, I’ve stopped looking ahead to see what’s coming. It’s not my favorite way to read, but it’ll do.

• I also can get by without wearing a watch. While others in my house mostly rely on their phones to tell time, I’ve worn a watch since I was a kid and never wanted to go without one. Last fall, though, my watch stopped and the face broke when we were replacing the battery. Weeks went by before I stopped checking my wrist to see what time it was, but I eventually got used to it. (I’m also thoroughly enjoying the new watch Randy got me for Valentine’s Day, by the way.)

• It’s OK to abandon unfinished projects. When I read this bit of decluttering wisdom in Gretchen Rubin’s book, Inner Order, Outer Calm, I immediately thought of the foot-tall stack of old cooking magazines that had been taking up space on my fireplace hearth for weeks. I’d started going through them and tearing out recipes I might want to try someday, but lately, just looking at the stack was making me tired and even a bit anxious. They’re gone now, and I don’t miss them one bit.

• Gardening grace is a thing, at least it is for me. Peonies are precious, especially when they come from the yard of a loved one. But it’s OK to throw away peony shoots that sat in your garage so long last fall they completely dried out. (Your sister will be happy to give you more sometime, I’m sure of it.)

• Jan Karon started writing the Mitford series when she was 50. This detail—which the 80-something, bestselling author shares in the introduction to her lovely book, Bathed in Prayer: Father Tim’s Prayers, Sermons, and Reflections from the Mitford Series—just might be the most inspiring thing I’ve read in a long time. Especially as this same milestone birthday looms large in my own future.

Now it’s your turn. What have you learned this winter about exercise, writing, grace, decluttering or something completely unrelated to any of these?

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with Emily Freeman, Purposeful Faith, #TellHisStory, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.