
Every step is still a step. ~ Pamela Piquette
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Stepping In
I’m a fan of technology, especially fitness trackers. I’ve tried several different trackers over the years, landing on one I especially liked, one with a heart rate monitor. It’s not a top end model, but it gives me a general idea of what my heart rate is when I’m exercising. Yet when my health began to decline, I started to see my tracker as an enemy, because I couldn’t see one step forward, just two steps back, and sometimes more than two steps.
Two years ago when my health plummeted, I took the tracker off and put it away with no intention of ever wearing it again. I couldn’t imagine ever needing or wanting to put it back on.
In some ways, I had given up. I didn’t use those words, but I was resigned to the fact that this was just my life now. Though I was no longer walking, I was consistent in doing my physical therapy movements each day.
Two Steps Back
A year later, I fell, and a few months after that, I had a huge dysautonomia flare, so along with the constant migraines, I had to work very hard to recover from the fall. Physical therapy was a big part of each day. Because I didn’t wear my tracker, I missed the subtle changes that were happening.
One Step Forward
Six months ago, I began walking on my elliptical – just 5 minutes.
When did this happen?
I mean, I thought I’d never be able to walk on the elliptical again, but I felt stronger and better than I had in maybe two years. In fact, I dug out my fitness tracker. It felt good on my wrist. And I discovered I could track so many more things than heart rate. I could track my water intake, calories, steps, and sleep (even if wasn’t good sleep, I learned something. For instance, did I go to bed on a schedule?).
Even though the general fitness recommendation is 10,000 steps a day, for many of us that isn’t possible. And while I could have set a small goal for myself, something attainable, I needed a new perspective. Now I had a tool at my fingertips – or rather, on my wrist – to do just that.
While I had decided I would never again exercise, that it was better to give up than to start small, God never gave up on me. I just needed a different perspective.
Perhaps it was about starting small, about choosing to do a little something every day and building on that. Much like my faith life, which at times is strong and vibrant and other times, I must start again doing a little something each day and knowing that the Lord will be sufficient, even when I am insufficient.
Now, at six months in, I’m walking on the elliptical for 20 minutes many days each week, yet on the days I am not well enough, I give myself the grace to rest. Recently, I took many days off and had to start slowly again. But every day I walk is progress, even if it looks like one step forward and two steps back, for every step is still a step.


Pamela Piquette
Executive Director and Co-Founder of Chronic Joy®
Pamela is a leader and a visionary following God's call to inspire those affected by chronic illness, who believes that every precious life affected by chronic illness is both vital and purposed.
Pamela is the mom of three married children, grandma of three, and wife of more than 30 years. She is diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos, chronic migraines, and a host of other chronic conditions. She enjoys hot tea, reading and walking her teddy bear dog, Cocoa.

YOU’RE INVITED TO DISCOVER MORE

#STEPREPPRAY
#StepRepPray is an invitation to meet with God in movement. Always at the pace of grace. With each step or every rep, seek God’s guidance, worship and praise Him, thank Him for the gift of movement, and lift your heart in prayer for others.

#StepRepPray Log Sheet
With your doctor’s guidance, and a little creativity, exercising with chronic illness is not just possible, but can be rewarding. Log your steps, reps, and prayers.

Let's Pray
Prayer is a precious invitation from God. Let’s Pray! Often, we over-think prayer, complicating it by seeking the right words, the right time or place, or the perfect formula, so afraid of getting it wrong that we fail to pray at all.
RELATED POSTS
A Thousand Tiny Paper Cuts
So when job loss, job seeking, health issues and medical appointments collide, the pain of these paper cuts is very r...
Giving Hearts • Our Programs
God has guided Chronic Joy every step of the way as we have grown through the years! It is my privilege to share a...
Gratitude Through Prayer • Invitation to Remember
Paul changed the world when his lens was altered by his physical limitations. God not only used Paul’s illness and ...
Be Strong and Courageous
Encouragement for chronic illness: be strong and courageous. Ultimately, we can hold tight to the promise of God that...
The Three C’s
I refer to these questions as the 3-C’s: Compassion, Complaining and Comparison. Compassion has a real cost. I of...
Love One Another • A Step of Faith
“My illness didn’t surprise God. These times of tearing down and mourning were purposed. There was a bigger plan. God...
Biking as Physical and Spiritual Disciplines
Biking is much more than just a way to get around, says the executive director of the Massachusetts Council of Church...
Go, Stay and Give
Together has been an important word as I’ve invested my time in the ministry of Chronic Joy for the past five years...
A Vision and a Journey
In January 2016, my friend Cindee and I began the most extraordinary journey, gifted with a vision too large to...
Do Not Despise Small Beginnings
The first day back was slow – a very, very slow five minutes. And though I felt worse after exercising, I kept it, ...
Dear Pamela,
You and Cindee are such precious sisters in the Lord, walking before us all here (literally) as you live out your faith in our Lord’s help for the journey. I am so thankful that Jesus gave you that thought that each step is still a step! We all need to hold onto His hopefulness there too. Thank you for all that you do to bring His joy and hope into the dark days. Blessings and Prayers for you!