HAPPY SEPTEMBER! Yes, it’s time to change the page on your calendar and to start preparing to soon say “goodbye” to summer and “hello!” to autumn! I’m loving the idea of autumn approaching: comfortable, cotton, oversized sweatshirts; vibrant shades of orange and yellow leaves falling from the trees; and cool, crisp weather to venture out into for a long, brisk walk! It doesn’t get much better than that! Hey, speaking of a long walk, did you hear about the 63-year-old man who walked more than 425 miles in 18 days in support of the Detroit Lions? His name is Joe Paquette, and he recently finished his journey from Munising to Allen Park, Michigan and – get this – he has two “bad” knees!
Joe said that he was relaying a message of sisu to the Detroit Lions players, which may possibly cause you to think to yourself, “What is this sisu that he is referring to?” I wondered the same thing, and now that I have learned that it is a Finnish term / word that many individuals who live in our Upper Peninsula use, I am slightly upset that I didn’t hear them use the word when I was there last week! The word sisu is used to suggest perseverance and fight, a word that I think I really like, a LOT! Joe stated that he walked more than 425 miles to prove that a grown man with two arthritic knees can make the long journey through the power of sisu. Wow!
I’m pretty positive that the Lions’ quarterback, Matthew Stafford, was impressed with the drive and determination that he witnessed in this amazing individual; Joe surely showed perseverance and fight during his 18-day journey! I read that Joe walked an average of 25 miles a day and walked the last mile of his trip with family and friends by his side… wow, what a sight that must have been! I’m hoping that the day comes when I can shake Joe’s hand and tell him how awesome he is… and that I truly appreciate him teaching us all about sisu!
Each and every one of you has the power and ability to “think like Joe” – to venture on your own personal journey through the power of sisu – using perseverance and fight! I’m sure that there were a few moments during his daily 25-mile walk when Joe wanted to stop, but he didn’t! He was full of determination and insisted on completing his journey; hmmmm, sounds pretty familiar to me! When I made the decision to start my own personal journey of good health, I was completely full of determination – nobody and nothing was going to stop me! Sure, there were times when I may have contemplated not going outdoors for my daily walk when the weather was too hot, too wet, or too cold, but I fought those feelings and reminded myself, “NO EXCUSES, Jodi! You will walk today and you’ll walk like you mean it!” I guess I used sisu all along and never even knew it!
Remember, I walked 1.5 miles – only three thousand consecutive brisk steps each day, which took less than 25 minutes; 63-year-old Joe walked 50,000 steps for 18 straight days! If he can – you can, but I’m not asking THAT from you… 1.5 miles / 3,000 steps is all I’m asking that you strive for daily. Hey, YOU HAVE the DETERMINATION and the FIGHT within, you have the sisu – USE IT!
And if it helps to claim that you are “doing it for the Detroit Lions”… go for it! If it works, we’ll make sure everyone in Michigan joins us in “a sisu walk” as soon as possible! Jodi =)
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