A friend gave me pedestrian advice. She was very animated as she explained that multiple studies have repeatedly found that, of all forms of medical intervention, one of the most effective is walking. In prior months, my average distance walked per day was in the range of 5 to 6 miles. My average for September sits at 2.56 miles per day, roughly half of the prior daily average. I have been goofing off.

Today, I went out and hiked 7 miles with 5 reps on the hill climb. It was a wonderful crisp day. I charged uphill with no problem.

Last year, I completed an online memory test and scored very poorly. This week, feeling invigorated and confident, I did the same test for a 3rd time. My subjective perception was that I was performing extremely well, that I had aced the test. I did not expect a top placement but felt sure that all of my efforts, all those days of 7, and 10, and 14 mile hikes, were about to pay dividends. The outcome was an embarrassment. This year’s result is shown in the header image. The real insult comes in the statement that declares the result as “normal.”

I have had this sense that if only I worked harder, pushed harder, jumped higher, and took greater risks, that I might thereby recover my all prior abilities. I was like a man thinking he could parachute himself upwards and return to his prior seat in the plane. Today, I think I should take up knitting.

The first test attempt may be found here.

The second test attempt is here.