I’m trying to up my steps. I’ve been pretty consistent in the gym for over 2 years now, but I’ve not focused enough on steps. That “10,000 steps per day” trope is nonsense. It was a marketing campaign from a step-counter as 10,000 is a clean, snappy number. Realistically, so long as you’re around 7,000 average per day, you’re doing well. So, to get that out of the way, I’m not obsessive about my steps, and I’m not aiming for 10k. I just want to make sure that I get out for a little bit most days. I’ve added a 30 minute walk into my calendar on every week day and on days when I’m feeling really unmotivated, I set a 15 minute timer and turn back the second it rings. But in truth, most days, once I’m out, I enjoy it more than I thought and I tend to walk for at least an hour. But that promise of “only 15 mins until you turn back” is often what gets me off the sofa.
Luckily, I live near the sea, so it’s easy to find some really lovely, scenic walks to encourage me to get up and out for at least 30 minutes most days. On a recent walk, the moon became the highlight of the day for me. It was just before full moon and it was so bright, and so big, even in the daylight.
I’m so crazy about the dome of the Carmelite Church in Valletta. It’s an iconic skyline and this dome is really what makes it. I love the walk along Msida, Ta’Xbiex and all the way to Tigne Point in Sliema as you can see the dome along the entire way, with the rest of the surroundings changing with it.
With each passing year I grow to love the winters in Malta more. Yes, they’re cold inside and it takes some getting used to. But once you prepare your home for it, the days themselves are just beautiful. The air is a little fresher, but still lovely and mild and warm once you get a good pace on.
But the real star of the show on this walk was not the dome, or the balmy winters late afternoon, it was that glorious moon. So bright and so low on the horizon. I wasn’t the only one along that seafront stopping to stare and snap.
