Walter Says: “One Step at a Time”

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life; It goes on”. ——- Robert Frost

I don’t have all the answers.

But I do know this: sometimes, when your world feels heavy, the best thing you can do is lace up your shoes and take a walk.

That’s how it started for me. One step. Around the block. Back when my knees creaked, my back ached, and my doctor told me my heart was only working at half the horsepower it should’ve been.

Back then, I wasn’t thinking about community or purpose. I was just trying to make it to the mailbox without wheezing. But here’s the funny thing about walking: it doesn’t just move your body—it shifts your mind.

You start seeing the world again.

I noticed the crack in the sidewalk where weeds used to grow wild. I saw the old corner store boarded up. I waved to a neighbor I hadn’t spoken to in years. Little things. But they stuck with me.

And then I started thinking—not just about my health, but about my neighborhood. The one I used to love. The one that now felt… different. Unsafe. Unfamiliar. Empty.

But maybe it didn’t have to stay that way.

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Purpose Walks and Porch Talks

These days, I call them “purpose walks.” I still walk for my heart, for my waistline, and for the sake of standing upright without groaning—but I also walk to see what needs fixing. A busted streetlight. Trash piling up near the old park. Kids hanging around with nowhere to go and nothing to do.

So I started talking. First to the neighbors I trust. Then to folks I barely knew. Nothing fancy—just chats on the porch, waves on the sidewalk, “how ya doing?” with some eye contact.

You’d be surprised how many people feel the same way: worried. Disconnected. Like we’re all living on the same street but in different worlds.

So we started tossing around ideas. Maybe a cleanup day. Maybe a neighborhood watch. Maybe a walking group for the older folks who don’t feel safe alone. One guy said, “We oughta paint a mural.” I said, “Heck, why not?”

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What Movement Really Moves

Look—I’ve lost more weight. Not a ton, but enough to make my knees say thank you. I’ve added some strength work, too. Just light stuff: cans of beans, some resistance bands, a little wall push-up here and there.

My doctor says my heart’s getting stronger.

But the real win? I feel like myself again. Not just a man trying not to die, but a man learning how to live well.

I visited my grandkids last weekend. My youngest, age four, looked at me and said, “Grandpa, you run funny.” And you know what? I do. But I was running—on grass, chasing joy, being part of the story.

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Closing Thoughts

There’s still work to do—on my health, in my neighborhood, in my heart. But I’m not hiding inside anymore. I’m walking forward. I’m building momentum. I’m finding purpose in small steps and big laughs.

If you’re stuck—physically, emotionally, spiritually—start with one walk. One honest conversation. One neighborly wave.

The world might feel broken. But maybe, just maybe, you can help fix a piece of it—starting with your own sidewalk.

I’m Walter.

I walk, I wave, I try again. And I’m not a doctor, and I don’t play one on TV.

Always check with your physician before making health changes.