I often count steps. I do this in the same way as many people do. I use a step counter to keep track of how far I walk each day. Currently I am doing a virtual walk along the coast of New South Wales in Australia. I have found this to be hugely interesting as I have been to many of the spots along the way in real life. The most exciting point to date was at the halfway marker when I passed through Terrigal on the Central Coast. This is the town where Lyle and I return to for family visits in Australia.
This isn’t my first virtual walk. I started the walks as a solitary exercise back during COVID. I didn’t think that I would continue but here I am on walk #7.
I also count steps in a different way. As a partially sighted person I count steps because it helps me think of where I am. This is especially so on stairways. I count my steps going up and know that there will be the same number coming down. I know the number of steps in many familiar locations. There are fourteen steps to our basement. There are four steps leading into my sister’s flat. There are six steps leading to the downstairs area of the church we attend. I even remember that at a club where we often eat in Australia, there are 22 steps leading upstairs.
I have learned never to quite trust when other people tell me how many steps are in front of me. Their method of counting might not be the same as mine. For instance, I know that Lyle counts one step leading into our house, but I count it as two.
At a recent support group meeting, Chelsea told us that counting steps was a valuable tool for her. Chelsea has less sight than I do, but likes to be outside in her yard. She said that if she doesn’t pay attention and count her steps to orient herself; it is easy enough to be lost even there.
I often find myself counting steps – sometimes even when there is no real need to do so. Counting steps is a small strategy for someone with little vision. For myself, I find it a very useful tool with no other technology or device required.
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