Stacey Covell lives in Dublin, Ireland, and I live in Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Every day for eighteen days we are both walking two miles. Today is day five.
Are you wondering why Stacey and I are both walking two miles? And what does walking have to do with a potato in your pocket?
She offered to walk with me when she read my story, 365 day challenge to not buy any clothes for a year: update. For 365 days, which started on May 1st, I am not buying any new clothes. Participants in the 365 Day Challenge were allowed one save during the year. I could have used the save coupon to buy a new dress for my husband’s Christmas party on December 7th, but instead I used it to buy a pair of sweat pants.
The sweat pants will keep my legs warm as I try to walk two miles every day for the next 18 days so I can fit into a dress I already own.
Stacey is helping me fit into one of these dresses. (You can vote on which dress you want me to wear in the comment on this post. I will wear the dress that gets the most votes. Right now the black dress is winning.)
When Stacey read my desire to walk every day for 18 days, she offered to be my walking partner. “You know what, let’s do it! I’m not sure I can get in two miles today but I will make a commitment to do it with you starting tomorrow (if not today) for sure! That will do me good as well! Yay for walking partners!”
We e-mail each other after we have walked. And we walk because we don’t want to let each other down.
And now for the rest of the story. Or, why did you put a hot potato in your pocket?
Stacey asked me, ” Have you ever tried putting baked potatoes in your pockets to keep your hands warm? I haven’t done it yet but my MN* mother said it’s always a win. MN* = Minnesota
Yesterday I baked four Russet potatoes and put two in my pocket. The potatoes kept my hands warm, and when I came home I ate them. And just like Stacey said, I had lunch upon my return.
It is raining today, but after lunch I will walk again, to the stop sign and back. I won’t let Stacey down, and I want my dress to fit.
Have you ever had a friend help you do something? Like walk, or not eat bananas, or stop a bad habit? Please tell me in the comments I would love to chat.
Oh, and have you ever put a hot potato in your pocket, or a hot rock in the bottom on your sleeping bag? ( Do you remember putting a rock in your sleeping bag at summer camp Michelle?)
P.S. Stacey Covell is a writer. She blogs at staceycovell.com, on her blog, One Beautiful Thing. We met in an on-line writing class we took last year, Tribe Writers. We have both lived in Saint Paul Minnesota, and have become friends through our writing and walking. ( Disclaimer: this is an affiliate link)
P.S.S My mom said to poke holes in your baked potato so it doesn’t explode. I always thought she was making it up.
