I have told many of my colleagues that my previous teaching experience in Ukraine was, without a doubt, the highlight of my professional career. No other experience in my law school, law practice and time on the bench has compared with the joyous experience of teaching fundamental legal principles to eager and bright young minds in Ukraine. To assist in the fostering of free institutions in that ancient and beautiful land is a high privilege.
Beyond these professional highlights, however, my time in Ukraine has also had a profound personal affect upon me. Specifically, as a result of what I saw and experienced in Kyiv in 2007 I have made some vast changes in my personal habits which has revolutionized my life.
One of the things I immediately took note of in Ukraine was the physical appearance of the people on the street. Over more than two weeks I rarely saw any individual, man or woman, old or young, who was dramatically overweight. This was something of a shock to me, coming from the United States of America where obesity is something of an epidemic--an epidemic which over the years had personally affected me. I noted that the physical and eating habits of Ukrainians was vastly different from that of Americans. For one thing, most Ukrainians spend a significant part of their time on their feet, walking to and from work or recreation. While the number of personal vehicles is increasing in Ukraine, most people still walk or ride public
transportation and Ukrainians are obviously more physically active than Americans. They also appear to eat more healthy food in smaller quantities than Americans.
At five foot ten and weighing over 250 pounds, I felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb in Ukraine during my trip there in 2007. I returned in late November with a resolve to do something about it. In the Spring of 2008 I decided that I was going to start emulating my Ukrainian friends, and started walking to and from work each day, a distance of eight miles round trip. Walking seemed like a sensible exercise for me, as my local government has provided a private exercise room, showers and locker room at my courthouse. So, I parked my car and moved forward with my daily walking. While difficult at first, my two hours of walking each day became very precious to me, allowing me time to think, to meditate, to listen to music on my iPod, to listen to dozens of audio books (mostly histories and biographies), and to memorize a vast amount of poetry in English, German and Russian. From the spring of 2008 until the present, I have driven myself to work only once or twice.
I lost weight very rapidly due to my daily walking, assisted with a sensible diet. By about November of 2008, one year after my first trip to Ukraine, I had lost a total of some 85 pounds. In addition to walking, I also lifted weights four or five days a week. By January of 2009 I felt as if I were in the best physical shape of my life--including my teenage years and my twenties. I not only felt physically alive and vigorous, but the positive affects upon my mind and my inner peace was amazing. In January I began running to and from work instead of walking, and since
then have averaged between 50 and 60 miles (80 to 100 kilometers) each week. In April of 2009 I finished the Salt Lake City Marathon in a time of 4 hours and 11 minutes, and yesterday, July 24, 2009 I finished the Deseret News Marathon in 4 hours and 8 minutes. (In the pictures above I am approaching the finish line in Salt Lake City at mile 26.2)
I am so grateful for the personal impact my time in Ukraine has worked in my life, and I return this Fall with a unique connection to the land and people.
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