B

At 74, Margaret Ellis found herself asking what she should do next to keep both her mind active and her body strong. After retiring from her long career as a literature teacher, she suddenly had more free time than ever before. She could either return to the classroom as a student by taking an art history course, or try an initial training programme in Nordic walking (北欧健走). After thinking it over, she chose the latter.

On the first day of the training, Margaret arrived at the park with her new poles under her arm and took her place in the group as if it were part of her usual morning routine. Yet only when the session began did she realise how long it had been since she had last learned something entirely new.

Nordic walking was harder than she had expected. It required rhythm, balance, posture, and coordination between the arms and legs. Several times, she lost the pattern and had to start again. But instead of feeling discouraged, she tried to treat the movements like a performance. Years earlier, she had learned folk dance and enjoyed hiking, and those experiences helped her find the needed rhythm. "I listened for the rhythm," she said, "and then I let my body follow."

Physical activity had always been an important part of Margaret's life. She had once been a swimmer, a cyclist, and a teacher who enjoyed organising school sports events. But what drew her most strongly to Nordic walking was something personal. Her father had loved long walks and often said, "Walk first. Answers come later." Whenever life felt confusing, he would go outdoors and return calmer than before. Remembering him, Margaret felt she was not just learning a new sport. She was reconnecting with an old family habit.

Although Margaret joined the programme as a student. she soon became an inspiration to the rest of the group. When younger participants complained about tired arms or cold weather, they noticed her quietly adjusting her poles and starting again.