Okay, so I’ll admit my recent posts have been a bit, what…
morbidly introspective?
So much so that family members are growing alarmed.
Hey, what can I say…
I try to use my life as an example…
and sometimes a warning.
Okay let’s lighten up a bit and talk about movements.
After all, this blog is designed and intentioned to be just that…
But other than the metaphorical kind, how about real life ways we can move…
and feel better?
I have found it to be true that lack of movement means bad stuff…like apathy, depression and lack of creativity.
When I move I just feel better.
I feel more creative.
I feel more alive.
I feel like I can take it on…
whatever “it” might turn out to be.
Here are three ways I believe we can move consistently to feel and do better in life…
or pen, or keyboard, or whatever your instrument might be.
I have found that a consistent, almost daily, writing habit is a very good thing for me.
There’s stuff stuck in my head and heart that just needs to get out. If not for anything else, for me to understand it better…
and perhaps for you to as well.
When I go through tough times, I have found the following exercise to be extremely helpful:
Oh and sometimes writing is best done with pen and paper…
the old fashioned way.
This is one of those times.
So, get out a pen and piece of paper and write at the top the following heading…
“What do I have going for me right now”…
or something similar.
And then just start listing all the things that are good, or even potentially good, in your life.
I did that yesterday and came up with a list of 50 things. It took me all of maybe 15 minutes to make the list.
I re-read it this morning.
And I feel much better.
Writing is a worthwhile movement…even if you can’t make a coherent sentence.
Don’t do it for anyone other than you and it doesn’t really matter.
Now if you want others to read it…perhaps it pays to spend a little time re-writing, proofing and editing.
A good while back I adopted the habit of meditation. It’s actually a very simple thing to do.
You need nothing more than a quiet place to sit, perhaps a yoga mat or cushion and anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes of time.
And you just sit there and breathe. I prefer to do it with my eyes closed.
Yes your mind will wander. That’s what they do…those pesky minds of ours.
But you just keep yanking it back to the breath…as many times as necessary (and, believe me, there will be many).
I’ve found that meditation puts me in perspective. It slows me down. It helps ease or even erase the incessant worrying.
It makes me feel better
For years I was the typical goal-oriented gym rat. I didn’t feel exercise was really exercise unless it was a couple hours spent in an expensive gym.
Hell, I even hired a personal trainer.
That’s a lot of pressure to place on an activity that really doesn’t need to be so complicated.
Maybe that’s why so many people either loathe doing it, or don’t do it at all.
These days, when it comes to exercise, I’ve adopted a different attitude…
just move my ass.
No goals.
Other than the aim to move a bit.
I do so in a number of ways, like…
- walking – I don’t run because I can’t think and run at the same time…and my walks always produce ideas…
- surfing – can’t live without it…
- swimming – ok, I’ll admit I do go to “a gym” for this…but, hey, I love to swim…
- yoga – another super simple activity that is extremely low maintenance…
- hiking – akin to walking, but always done in an extremely natural setting…it’s cleansing, as well as great movement…
- biking – took this up a while back…Costa Rica is a great place to bike.
That’s how I move.
How can you move?
Keep it simple and just move.
Forget about the goals.
I believe goals are generally borne of envy.
We want what others have.
Like that perfect body, or all that gorgeous shiny stuff, or that super-charged love life.
I used to want all that too.
But these days, I just want to move.
It makes me feel much better.
And it costs a lot less.
Movements are important. They change things. They make things better.
They make us better.
So, let’s just move.
image credit: Peace Revolution 2010 via Compfight cc
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