Oodles of Odometers

In its most basic sense, an odometer is defined as "as instrument that indicates distance." But distance can be measured in many ways, and there are many ways I'm measuring the physical aspect of this 1,000 mile journey.

• Average daily distance necessary to reach 1,000 miles in 365 days
• Actual distance I walk, cumulative each day
• Margin of difference between overall average and actual distance
• Percentage of actual average achieved through current date
• Percentage of 1,000 miles already walked

But why measure so much? Each indicator gives me a new look at a very large and potentially overwhelming goal; a new perspective on my progress. Knowing the average I ought to be walking gives me something to aim for each day, and tracking what I actually walk is essential to knowing my progress toward that goal. The margin of differences, whether positive or negative, tells me should I walk more than that average or do I have some room to slow down a bit. The percentages are more out of curiosity, but let me see the accumulation of miles and progress in a different way.

To date, I have walked well more than 50 miles (see the new odometer counter at the right, below my profile but above the blog archive), but still below what the overall average ought to be; this is not too upsetting as yet, however, because once the foul air and bitter cold is alleviated, walks will naturally get more frequent and longer. I am pleased that on no date have I had to enter 0.0 for my actual distance walked; each day I am getting closer to my goal.

So many times we need to take a new perspective - a new measurement of our lives. If you only look at your life one way and aren't pleased with what you see, looking at it in a different way can show you something you hadn't seen before. Maybe you aren't making all the progress you'd hoped for, but you are making progress.

And so am I.