With the arrival of spring and the tasks it brings, I noticed that I felt a bit more out of shape this year than I did last spring, so I decided to do something about it.

Along with watching what I eat more closely, drinking healthier beverages and skipping the sodas, I decided that I wanted to take a walk every day that I could. I didn’t embark on a fancy fitness campaign. Instead, I just stepped out the front door and headed up the street.

It seemed like a simple approach to get myself started, so I just set out to walk a large loop around Belmont.

There are a few residents who I see walking past our house every day, and there are signs everywhere that say “Belmont Walks” after all, so it seemed like I should join that crowd.

I established my route the very first day — up Market Street to Jefferson, around the corner and up to the post office, where I make a quick stop to check our box, then along Main to Bridge Street and past the old school site. I finish up by walking downhill past Belmont Mills and then back up Jefferson to Market Street and home.

I don’t know how far I’m walking — almost certainly less than a mile — but I have been doing it faithfully every day.

It feels good. I like to get my blood pumping and to breathe a bit heavily on the uphill stretches. It was only the second day before I could feel the exertion in my legs. But nothing has been painful, and I believe it has helped me ward off some of the aches and pains I previously was feeling in my feet, knees and ankles.

But, I have made other observations along the way that have nothing to do with me or my physical well-being.

First, the sidewalk along Main Street between the post office and the former car wash is rough. People should avoid walking on the south side of the street there unless they are prepared for uneven terrain. I told my husband, Mike, as he joined me one day that walking up that block was more like hiking in the woods than walking on a public street.

Second, that same section of sidewalk, with its smooth, once flat stones, is slick when damp. Again, people walking there need to take their time and use caution.

Third, kids do still play outside. Over the past few days I have seen elementary age kiddos bouncing on a trampoline and playing with their dog, I spotted three older ones, maybe middle schoolers, playing a round of Wiffle ball. Still others have been playing on the equipment at the former school site, sometimes accompanied by an adult depending on their age.

Fourth, there are quite a few people living in this tiny village who I do not know. Most seem friendly, and a few have nodded or waved as I have passed by. It feels strange, though, since at one time I probably knew 90% of the people in town and was aware of where they lived and what they did for a living, how many kids they had and when I was likely to see them out and about.

Fifth, there are still plenty of people around who I do know. On Thursday, for example, I passed by Vic and Sondy Goff sitting outside their front door. We chatted for a minute, and I introduced them to Mike. I don’t remember a time when I did not know them.

Because I have enjoyed it, and because it has to be beneficial to my health, I plan to keep it up. I likely will change my route some, for the sake of seeing new things and interacting with more neighbors, but I’m not sure just where my steps will take me.

At some point, I will probably figure out just how far I am walking, but I don’t know how much that matters as long as I stick with it.

A word of caution to anyone else who might embark on such an endeavor — there are a lot of dogs in our local neighborhoods, and they aren’t always restrained. So far, I have only been barked at from behind a fence. Mike and I did cross Main Street one evening because we could see a pair of dogs running loose in their yard ahead and saw no reason to agitate them.

I know of at least two people who have been attacked by dogs while walking in Belmont over the years, so please plan your route carefully and take steps to protect yourself if you go exploring on foot.

No matter how you feel about walking for exercise, I urge you to pay attention to how you are feeling and to do things that make you feel better. As far as I know, we only have one shot at this thing called life, so we might as well go through it feeling healthy, strong and happy.