dyton mupawaenda
Fadzayi Maposah-Correspondent
Walking is one way that is recommended highly as exercise these days.
It is also good for bonding.
I know a lot about walking and bonding, that is a story for another day. I also walk as a means of transport.
That I do on many occasions. So it is also good for saving. I used to walk and then the money that I should have used as transport money I would put in a jar.
The more I walked the more money would be in my jar! Seeing the money in the jar served as an incentive to keep walking.
I have at my house “walking presents”.
No these presents are not mobile.
I do not want you labelling me as the strange woman with “walking presents”!
“Walking presents” are the presents that I bought for myself just to encourage myself to keep walking.
If you come to my house, you will not be able to see and touch all the presents because some of them were edible and only added a bit of fat to my body! But then I eat and exercise.
I do not treat myself to edible presents all the time so I guess it is all good! What do you expect me to say?
I am doing my best, it may be perfect but I keep at it all the time.
Read somewhere that consistency in all areas of life is very important.
Kumusha kuSanyati, (Our rural homestead) is along a minor road. The road can take one to a river that we just refer to as kunaSeke.
There are thriving gardens there and the villagers who stay nearer the river have managed to transform their lives just through horticulture.
There are the source of many healthy products that include green mealies, okra, tomatoes, kale and carrots, the list is endless.
You can tell whether an individual is just starting the horticulture business by how they move from one village to the next.
When they are still starting, they walk all the way from kunaSeke to different places.
They walk to the business centres, the schools and health facilities selling their vegetables.
Now kuSanyati is a hot area. Most will have a sun hat but there are those few from my home area who proudly boast that they do not feel the Sanyati heat anymore. They have gotten used to the high temperatures.
These ones walk everywhere with no hats. They can even go weeding in the fields and go about their chores hatless!
While these relatives of mine walk from one place to another, they will be carrying loads of various sizes. Some families have everyone walking.
How, you may ask? They divide the produce among the family members and then everyone has something that they sell. Early training for most of my Sanyati home boys and home girls results in adults who are hard workers in the gardens and gifted when it comes to selling.
As I said that our homestead is along the road, so we can see who is going kunaSeke or coming from there if they use that route.
Others may opt to walk through the forests but most prefer to walk along the minor road and pass through the different homesteads.
It is much safer too especially at night.
When we were small we would be cautioned against needlessly walking in the hot sun.
The cautions would always show that the adults were concerned about our health.
My siblings used to nosebleed and whenever that happened, the issue of needless walking in the sun would be raised. One had to walk when they had a reason.
Just walking about the homestead without a reason was what was condemned.
At times we failed to understand why the parents called it unnecessary walking, because we just had to walk to get “our things” from other parts of the yard.
Looking back, “our things” were not important compared to the heat we exposed ourselves too!
Unlike my relatives we just walked with no financial benefit to us or our families.
Today, many will take part in the cancer walk.
This is a solidarity walk that can be a source of encouragement to many others.
As others are making a walk for support today what are you doing? Are you going to be cheering others or asking why they are walking?
Why walk has many answers. It is an opportunity to bond with others as they walk too.
As one bonds with others, it becomes a lighter walk. Remember how good it is to spend time with the ones that are important to you.
Hours roll by and at the end of the day it is just like you had a few minutes of quality time.
So as you walk today, take time to really think why you are walking. Whatever reason, you are doing a good thing. Taking part in such initiatives is a noble deed that is highly commended.
As you walk, breathe and enjoy the walk. Remember it is also contributing to good mental health. Walking alone can become a burden.
As you walk with others it becomes a lighter load that is shared with others.
The fact that the walk is being done in different parts of country does not make it just a capital city activity.
There is an opportunity too to take part in the programme by cycling. The funds raised through registration will assist organisations in the fight against cancer.
To top it all, all those participating will have “walking presents”, that is something to look forward to is it not? The “walking presents” are the themed caps and t-shirts.
Whenever you look at these items you will be reminded of the Power Walk when you contributed in the fight against cancer. I applaud you for taking the initiative to walk.
Your walk is not in vain.
Online Reporter