No More Excuses. Exercise is Free.
We've just taken a half hour break from our work day, and have walked to the local rock pool for a quick swim to cool off and rejuvenate our brains.
It's not busy at this time of day which is also very pleasant, but the main reason I've been inspired to write is that amongst the few people who were out today was a gentleman with significant movement impairment (perhaps caused by cerebal palsy?) enjoying the pool and moving to the best of his ability. Seeing him enjoying movement and the world around him reminded me to be thankful for and appreciate the fact that it's easy for me to move and that I don't have any excuses. It reminded me that while there might be "I don't want to-s" there isn't any CAN'T.
He'd used his motorised scooter/cart to get to the pool, had painstakingly undressed and put on his inflatable ring, used the ramp to walk himself into and out of the water several times and in-between times had swum in a small space near the railings and then, when he was finished, painstakingly dry and re-dress himself before leaving. Everything he did took far more effort than if he had been normally mobile, and it took more time.
While he was obviously enjoying the time in the pool and out of it, he was also working hard. I also noticed that he had the time to enjoy other's enjoyment or the spectacular day that is today. What a fabulous human being!
It would have been so much easier for him to stay at home. For most of us with perfectly functioning bodies it can be hard enough to get out and get moving and ignore the myriad of excuses that we so readily concoct. "I can't because.....I'm not good enough; It's too cold; My shoes aren't right; people will look at me and laugh; I'm too tired; It's too hard; It will hurt....". I know it all sounds familiar and I don't doubt for a second that even my light-filled gentleman at the pool today has similar thoughts. But....the bottom line is that 99% of the thoughts that flash though our brains at the thought of moving are RUBBISH: There is no such thing as "Can't". You CAN if you want to.
It's not busy at this time of day which is also very pleasant, but the main reason I've been inspired to write is that amongst the few people who were out today was a gentleman with significant movement impairment (perhaps caused by cerebal palsy?) enjoying the pool and moving to the best of his ability. Seeing him enjoying movement and the world around him reminded me to be thankful for and appreciate the fact that it's easy for me to move and that I don't have any excuses. It reminded me that while there might be "I don't want to-s" there isn't any CAN'T.
He'd used his motorised scooter/cart to get to the pool, had painstakingly undressed and put on his inflatable ring, used the ramp to walk himself into and out of the water several times and in-between times had swum in a small space near the railings and then, when he was finished, painstakingly dry and re-dress himself before leaving. Everything he did took far more effort than if he had been normally mobile, and it took more time.
While he was obviously enjoying the time in the pool and out of it, he was also working hard. I also noticed that he had the time to enjoy other's enjoyment or the spectacular day that is today. What a fabulous human being!
It would have been so much easier for him to stay at home. For most of us with perfectly functioning bodies it can be hard enough to get out and get moving and ignore the myriad of excuses that we so readily concoct. "I can't because.....I'm not good enough; It's too cold; My shoes aren't right; people will look at me and laugh; I'm too tired; It's too hard; It will hurt....". I know it all sounds familiar and I don't doubt for a second that even my light-filled gentleman at the pool today has similar thoughts. But....the bottom line is that 99% of the thoughts that flash though our brains at the thought of moving are RUBBISH: There is no such thing as "Can't". You CAN if you want to.
- You do have time to move. If you have time to watch the television, you have time to move for 30 minutes each day.
- It isn't hard. If you have two good legs and two good arms you can move with great ease and that is what your body has evolved to do. It's as easy as going for a walk.
- Worrying about what other people think is a needless waste of energy - how can you possibly ever know what they're thinking? And, quite frankly, it's none of your business.
- You do not need the 'latest and greatest' shoes or equipment to exercise. As Arnold Schwarzenegger reminded us a few years back now, he never paid a cent to walk, run or do push ups. Your body is all you need
- Movement makes you feel good: Your body is designed to move. Movement energises you - body, mind and soul. It protects you from disease through a whole host of processes and best of all...it's FREE.
No more excuses.
posted by Kristen at
15:21
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