We experience the world through our body. We have a lot of influence over it. We can control what we put into it. We decide how much we want to care for and maintain it. You can be an avid walker, a weekend warrior, an endurance athlete, or anything in between. The fact of the matter is, you are your body. You don’t get to trade in. It’s a “one body for life” deal that has been made.
What happens if we decide to treat our body like a loaner vehicle? What happens when we decide to fuel it with shit, beat it up and not get enough sleep? We inherit the decisions we make. It turns ugly slowly and then quickly. It’s a simple decision that has been decided by nature. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. It’s all up to us.
Exercise makes many people unhappy at the moment. They may feel great after, but it tends to feel like work. Should it feel like work? It doesn’t have to always be torture. In fact, it can be fun. Working out doesn’t have to be punishment. Some of us enjoy the punishment. Some of us don’t. Some of us need a way in which we can exercise joyously.
I look to children for inspiration in exercise. Have you ever noticed how much fun children have playing tag? Do you remember how much fun it was playing capture the flag? These kids aren’t punishing themselves. They are celebrating life, and honoring their bodies in the process. We all have options. Some of us enjoy track and field. Some of us enjoy wrestling. Some of us enjoy bicycling. The options are plentiful.
You can pick your own mode of maintaining your vehicle/body. Once you find the way you like you can add other things onto it. You may be inspired to crank out pushups! It won’t be because they’re fun. They can be downright torturous. You will push through it, because you know it assists the physical activity you genuinely like! How cool is that?
Objects in motion stay in motion. Flowing water never grows stale. A rolling stone gathers no moss. These are all ways of stating the same idea. When we begin the trend towards physicality we make it routine. Once we make it routine it becomes enmeshed in our life. This is a sure fire way to ensure success. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a professional athlete or hobbyist. It just matters that you make the daily maintenance a priority.
We are all responsible for ourselves. Nobody is going to stand over your shoulder. You need to make the decision to be healthy. So, go for it! Play tag, fly a kite, walk in the park, jog with your dog, wrestle your friends (ONLY IF THERE IS CONSENT!) and celebrate your health.
Find the way you want to work your body. Don’t compare how you do it to anybody else. Find your way. Take care of your body. It isn’t a Zipcar! This thing is for keeps. You may not know how many miles you have, but you do know one thing. You know that you are going for a ride. You might as well make the best of it. Get your engine moving. Spin your wheels. Do your maintenance; make your pit stops, open up on the highway of life and breath that beautiful air.