Different Roads, Forward Together: Meet ROTO
When I created Walk With Me, I hoped someone might eventually decide to join the journey. I did not expect the first person to teach me so much about what the idea could mean.
On the website, she is known as ROTO. She lives in Arizona, and she also happens to be my sister.
I suspect she initially joined because she wanted to support me. That would have meant a great deal by itself. Somewhere along the way, however, this became her walk too.
ROTO began with a goal of 5,000 steps per day. During her first week, she averaged 7,687. She then raised her goal to 8,000.
The next week, she averaged 7,351 steps. She did not reach the new goal, but she did something more important: she continued.
A week later, she averaged 9,403 steps per day. Her goal this week is 8,500.
That is real progress. It has not been a perfectly straight line, because progress rarely is.
She is also doing this in Arizona during the summer. I complain about the Texas heat, and with good reason, but Arizona brings an entirely different level of heat. ROTO continues to find the time and the motivation to get her steps anyway. She adjusts, keeps working, and moves forward.
That is what impresses me most.
Like most people, she has experienced valleys in life. Right now, she is climbing out of one. I will leave the details of her story for her to share, if and when she chooses. What I can say is that I am proud of the way she continues to show up for herself.
What “Walk With Me” Means
Walk With Me was never intended to mean that everyone should train for the Appalachian Trail.
The trail is my long walk. Someone else’s may be improving their health, recovering from a loss, rebuilding confidence, changing careers, strengthening their faith, or simply getting through a difficult period without giving up.
There are no rankings here. No winners. No losers.
ROTO and I live in different states. We have different goals, different circumstances, and different roads ahead of us. Yet we can still move forward together.
That is the meaning behind Walk With Me.
You do not need to be a hiker. You do not need an extraordinary goal. You do not even need to know exactly where your road leads. You only need a starting point and a willingness to take the next step.
ROTO started with 5,000.
This week, she is reaching for 8,500.
I am proud that she chose to walk with me. I am even prouder that she is making the walk her own.