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Mile 984.  A nice, simple, brisk walk home from work to get me there in time for a beautiful holiday dinner prepared by Willyne and shared with Doug Jr. and Stefanie.  Following that, we enjoyed a drive together to see Christmas lights and had a special dessert.  Homemade German chocolate pecan pie bars!  We had a very nice evening together!

There's a map, today's walking thought by Lloyd George ... and let's not forget, lots of exciting numbers (!) waiting for you when you click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

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Today's walk was 3.62 miles, surprisingly, with 158 feet climbed in 55:14 minutes, giving it a 6.2 tortoise rating. Surprisingly, because Lou never got more than 68 feet above sea level. 599 calories were burned on this walk.  

Here are the overall stats so far for 2014:

984.88 miles walked, which is 98.39% of my 2014 goal.

309:33:29 hours walked, which is 98.90% of my 2014 goal

48,057 total feet climbed 

155,977 calories burned
95.53% of the year has passed

I've walked 73 consecutive non-Sundays since my last missed day on September 20, and overall have walked on 286 of the 299 non-Sundays thus far in 2014, a 95.65% consistency rating.

The purpose of the percentages is to have a higher percentage of distance and time walked than of the year. This tells Tortoise that he is on track. Yes, this is more numbers than you are likely interested in, all Tortoise can say is he's really good at setting high goals and having them slip away because he doesn't do them every, every day.

And now for today's walking thought, initially presented in April 1994 ...

"Truly I have been blessed far beyond that which I merit. And in the coming days, I pray only that I might always be found as Abraham Lincoln said: 'Die when I may, I would like it said of me by those who knew me best, that I always plucked a thistle, and planted a rose where I thought a rose would grow.' I have learned in my life that trials are blessings in disguise if we accept them with humility, faith, and fortitude. All that we suffer and endure with patience will build within us a more charitable and tender person, having acquired the education we came on earth to receive.

"God help us to be grateful for our blessings, never to be guilty of the sin of ingratitude, and to instill this same gratitude into the lives of our children. The Lord has said, 'And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more' (D&C 78:19)."

To watch, listen to, or read this message in full, please visit https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1994/04/gratitude?lang=eng #ShareGoodness

The tortoise is smiling!