Sandra’s Saga: Chapter 2

We walk by faith, not by sight. - Paul…

I Am Sandra: Chapter Two – Taking the First Step

It’s early morning, and for once, I’m not staring blankly at the ceiling, waiting for the motivation to drag myself out of bed. No, today is different. Today, I’m doing something. I slip on my walking shoes—old, but still sturdy—and grab my light jacket. The house is quiet. My husband is snoring softly, and the world feels peaceful as I step outside.

The cool air hits my face, and for the first time in a while, I feel…awake. Really awake. I take a deep breath, feeling my lungs expand and contract. One foot in front of the other, Sandra, I whisper to myself. And so I begin.

The first few steps are nothing to brag about. My knees feel stiff, my shoulders ache from carrying the weight of my stress and exhaustion for far too long. I’m moving slower than I expected, but I’m moving. And that’s enough.

As I walk, I think about my mother. I see her sitting in her chair, staring out the window, the same way I used to. She’s a good woman, but her world has become small—confined to four walls and a bed. I don’t want that. I can’t let that be my future.

I think about my goals: traveling to places I’ve only seen in pictures, writing stories that inspire others, and regaining the sense of me that I feel I’ve lost. None of that can happen unless I get my health back. This walk—simple, unremarkable—is the start of that.

The sun begins to rise, warming my skin. I’ve read about the benefits of sunlight: how it boosts vitamin D, helps strengthen bones, and lifts your mood. I feel a small glimmer of that now. It’s nothing life-changing, but it’s something.

By the time I reach the end of my street, my knees are protesting, and I’m winded, but I don’t stop. I’m not walking to lose weight overnight. I’m not walking to impress anyone. I’m walking because I’ve decided to take back my life.

As I head home, I feel a sense of pride I haven’t felt in a long time. I did it. I started.

And tomorrow, I’ll do it again. I don’t have to move mountains; I just have to keep moving forward. One step, one breath, one day at a time.

This is how it begins. I am Sandra, and I’m walking toward a better me.