New Beginnings

Bust of the Roman God Janus, from the Vatican Museum. 

(Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

‘Tis the First of January, the month named after the Roman God Janus, who had two heads (back to back) and was therefore able to look backwards and forwards at the same time, to the past and the future. He was the Guardian of Gates and Doors, Custodian of the Universe, and the God of Beginnings. Presumably that’s why our New Year has become a time for reflecting on the year that’s gone, and considering what lies ahead over the next 12 months – and it offers the chance for us to make amends for past mistakes, and create ourselves anew as better, happier people.

And that, of course, is what all those New Year’s Resolutions are about. My main aim this year is to try and get fitter by eating more sensibly (which means no snacking between meals) and walking for at least 20 minutes every day. I even have a pedometer which, alas, is not as accurate as it should be, to keep track of how far I walk, and how long it takes.

So, accompanied by the Man of the House, I marked New Year’s Day with the first walk of the year, a 40-minute stroll down the road, through a park, and back up another road in a huge circle. Downhill, on the first leg of our walk, we had the wind in our faces, which was bracing to say the least, but the wind was behind us on the final uphill section, and fairly blew us back home. According to the pedometer we covered two-and-a-half kilometres, but I’ve been counting the number of steps I take, and checking the figure recorded on the pedometer, and the two do not match up at all, so we checked the route online and reckon it was roughly two-and-a-half miles.

Day One of my Keep Fit Campaign is almost over, and I feel very pleased with myself – but there’s 364 days to go until the end of the year!