It was a nice, crisp and sunny fall day.  A perfect day for a walk!

One of my resident’s (patient, customer, client– whatever you prefer– I prefer to call him by his name; “Chester”) wanted to go outside for a walk.  It was a perfectly good idea.

The only problem is that Chester had recently demonstrated a dangerous habit of allowing his “walks” to become “hikes” and there was growing concern that he would wander away and get lost.

Without getting too technical; there was genuine concern that his cognition had been slipping and that perhaps it was time he no longer walk alone.  Rather than insult him we simply adopted a rule that someone would accompany him on these walks.

So on this beautiful, crisp day I gleefully left my cramped office to enjoy a brisk walk with Chester.  We had enjoyed walks together many times before.  Sometimes we walked side-by-side and chatted or playfully goaded one another; sometimes he preferred that I FOLLOW and allow him quiet moments of reflection.  Either way, I always allowed him to LEAD.  We rounded the corner of the building.  With Chester in the LEAD he pushed his rolling walker forward along the grassy shoulder of a paved service road that meandered to the back of the building.  I FOLLOWED walking on the pavement rather than in the wet grass (I had on my good dress shoes!).

As we strolled along a car slowly and quietly approached from the rear.  Then a loud “honk” startled me so severely I darn near jumped out of my “good dress shoes.”

Chester started to giggle and in his typically gruff and goading voice said, “That’s why I walk over here!”  He chuckled some more then said, “I sure am glad you’re here to look after me!”

When you find yourself walking your own path in life; whether you choose to LEAD or FOLLOW, you best be prepared to GET OUT OF THE WAY!

And- – While walking that path it certainly doesn’t hurt to smile and laugh at yourself. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “A man is what he thinks about all day long.” Studies have shown it to be a biological fact that smiling and laughing reduces stress, increases blood flow to vital organs and delivers mood (and thought) elevating endorphins into the blood stream.

Another fantastic way to help improve mood is through memory; recollection of positive experiences. The above story is a true and truly enjoyable and enlightening moment from my recent past. By way of confession; I must say that the only fabricated part of this story is the name of my “friend.” Chester is indeed not his real name.

In telling this story with a fictitious name it personally loses some of its impact and meaning for me; I find the more real a memory (or story) the more meaningful. When you start changing facts (names) the stories are less impactful. Another lesson that Honesty is the Best Policy!

When walking down your life’s path lying to yourself is the quickest way to get lost!
Remember what Yogi Berra said; “if you don’t know where you’re going, you might not get there!”

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Lon Kieffer, author of “Get Out of Bed and Go to Work!”, Speaker, Consultant and expert on Workplace Culture Change and Generational Conflicts, gives seminars, keynote and plenary addresses, runs annual sales meetings, and provides Common Sense Consulting at:  www.LonKieffer.com. He can be reached at:  (302) 462-6748 or via email at:  Lon@LonKieffer.com