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What if your daily walk could do more than just boost your health? What if every step you took also helped your neighborhood shine?
That’s the idea behind Retiring Boldly’s newest movement — #StepUpCleanUp — a simple, powerful way to combine fitness with community service.

A Walk with Purpose

Many of us in our 50s, 60s, and beyond are looking for ways to stay active, social, and purposeful in retirement. Walking is one of the easiest and most effective forms of exercise. It improves heart health, lifts your mood, and keeps your body moving — but what if you could make that time even more meaningful?
With Step Up, Clean Up, your daily walk becomes an opportunity to care for your community. Just grab a trash bag, gloves, or a litter picker, and pick up debris as you go. It’s a small act that adds up — one neighborhood, one bag, one walk at a time.

Why It Matters

Our physical and mental health thrive when we feel connected to something bigger than ourselves. The simple act of cleaning your path strengthens your body, improves your surroundings, and sparks conversations with others who notice your efforts. You might even inspire someone else to join you.
Every step and every bag truly makes a difference — for the planet, your health, and your sense of purpose.

How to Get Started

• Pick Your Path– Choose your favorite walking route — a park, your neighborhood, or a trail. I try to do different paths to cover multiple areas in my community.
• Establish some boundaries for safety–
  • Decide how far off your walking path you are willing to go.  I limit this to no more than 4-5 steps off my route.    I also recommend not going into tall grass or heavily wooded areas. This means you won’t be able to pick up everything you see.
  • Set a limit on what and how much you are going to pick up.  Do not pick up anything sharp or items you can’t identify.  You also want to maintain efficiency for your walk so limit yourself to one bag or maybe two. 
• Gather Supplies: Wear gloves, a reusable bag, and your best walking shoes. Also consider a grabber tool that will make picking up things in the grass safer and easier and you won’t have to bend over.  I like this grabber reacher tool from Amazon that is highly rated and foldable. You get two of these when you order and they pick up really well. They also come in a 36″ version for taller folks. If you get one of these, gloves won’t be necessary. 

• Invite a Friend: Turn it into a weekly walk with friends or neighbors. Or bring your grandchildren along to teach the joy and value of community service early on. It’s a meaningful way to bond and make memories while doing good.
• Share the Movement: Post a photo or short video on social media using #StepUpCleanUp and tag @retiringboldly to inspire others.

A Movement for a Purposeful Retirement

Retirement isn’t the end of purpose — it’s the beginning of a new kind. Step Up, Clean Up reminds us that we can live actively, contribute meaningfully, and leave our world just a little better than we found it.

So lace up your shoes, grab your bag, and take your first step.
Because every step and every bag makes a difference.