Chinese Version
On 06-22-2021, Tuesday, it was sunny in the morning and rainy in the afternoon

It’s wasn’t hot in the morning so I went to the empty Brandeis campus to listen to the birds singing in the trees, to watch the green grass under my feet, to see the dense forests faraway, and to recall some happy stories I collected in the past. Recently, one of my happy stories is that I started to change my exercise routine.

Because I don’t have an interest in any sports, my exercise for many years, whether rain or shine, is to walk daily.

In 2018, my walking buddy said that her knees were uncomfortable during walking so she decided to walk less to rest her knees. Although my knees felt fine, I started to pay more attention on the wellbeing of my knees. After I heard “Jogging can hurt the knees and the lower back”, I decided to stay away from jogging, even though I never jogged before.

In 2019, while playing Pokemon Go, I began walking for longer time and greater distances, because Pokemon Go makes me feel like I’m having fun, catching ghosts and getting rewards while walking.

At the beginning of 2021, my son started and stopped running because his feet were uncomfortable at times. It made me feel that running is really not very safe.

I’ve been paying attention to important factors that determine our own health. I learnt that we have no choice on the genetic factors, but we can improve our health by changing our lifestyle which includes diet and exercise.

Recently, I chatted with a friend who likes jogging, exercise, and health in general.

I said, “My only exercise is walking. I can’t do anything else.”

The friend said, “Jogging is a good exercise.”

I replied, “I heard jogging can hurt the knees and lower back for people who are over fifty.”

The friend seems an expert on jogging and he explained more, “Proper jogging promotes health and strength of the knees, particularly if you don’t have any pre-existing knee problem. You can start jogging for 5 minutes every day. After one or two weeks, if you don’t feel uncomfortable, then jogging for 10 minutes every day. Probably, some day you can jog for 30 minutes or more. You don’t have to think about how fast or how far you jog.”

This suggestion sounds very simple, so I started jogging for 5 minutes every evening before dinner, and now I have entered the stage of jogging for 15 minutes in the evening before dinner. After jogging for 15 minutes, my knees are not hurt, but my sleep seems deeper, which made me feel very good!

As I am over fifty and tried jogging for the first time, I don’t care about speed or distance while jogging. As long as I keep on jogging during the expected time period I feel like I’ve reached my goal, which is not very difficult.

The difference between jogging and walking is that when jogging, both feet sometimes leave the ground at the same time, but when walking, one foot is always on the ground.

Little Episodes

1.【Taking a Walk】
Afternoon and dusk in our valley,
Changing of light in an hour, beauty!
The sky was clear when I went out,
The empty trail and the crowded yellow flowers.
Night fell when I came home,
The dark old trees and the bright red-orange sky.

(12-30-2016，walking in Almaden Valley in San Jose)

2. 【Enjoy Autumn】
Autumn leaves, flowers and fruits in California,
Accompanied by over stretching spring,
Has a unique style:
Every layer of forest is dyed with different colors and
Hydrangea is gorgeous,
Under blue sky and white clouds and
Pocket pomegranate is red.
Still green leaves
Brightened a falling maple leaf.
Charming in its own way
Dragon claw chrysanthemum so delicate.

(11-19-2017, Enjoy Autumn in Filoli, California)

(rarely see dragon claw chrysanthemum in U.S.)

3. Jogging versus Running
jogging-vs-running
Psychologists believe that due to its more relaxed pace and lesser strain on the muscles, jogging is great for dealing with stress and anxiety. Jogging puts you in a calmer state of mind that decreases your anxiety. Going outside to jog or run helps your mind receive the Vitamin D that it needs to lower any depressive symptoms you may have, or keep them from coming. Both jogging and running help to maintain a healthy level of stress management. Scientists say these exercises help to concentrate a chemical that helps moderate our response to stress called norepinephrine. These exercises also help to release chemicals in our brain called endorphins which make us feel “happy.” In fact, after runners finish their strenuous workout they feel what is called a “runners high”, a euphoria which makes you feel less pain in your body and reduces anxiety.