Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Everything is a drag, isn’t it? Unless it’s fun. But we turn everything into drudgery. Good parents turn mundane activities into a game, and children respond with eagerness. We turn everything into strain, and have difficulty responding with eagerness. The image of exercise is pain, not pleasure. The image of “work” is stress, not joy. But the minute movement becomes dance, suddenly it’s fun. The minute being with people becomes “social,” we kick back. Why can’t a brisk walk be a “dance” in nature? Why can’t all gatherings be social in some way? Why can’t calisthenics be expressive ways of limbering the body? Why can’t strength training be beautiful, an artistic movement of muscle?
Riding a bike is play, yet the body gets rewarded with muscle-building and calorie-burning. Dancing is play, and the heart thanks you for the boost. Stretching releases toxins, makes the joints move freely, reducing inflammation and increasing circulation – your immune system thanks you. It’s fun to experiment with different ways of stretching and moving the body, it will be limber and pain-free by thanking you with ease of movement.
Camping, hiking, and beach-going are so much fun. It’s about being in nature, serene and lofty. Being outside is fun; go outside for a bit today. You’ll see some people today, that will be fun. Couldn’t you make something fun today? Couldn’t you frolic a little? Remind yourself that it’s fun to get up and move. It’s fun to take a bath. It’s fun to prepare a meal. It’s fun to drive. It’s fun to be with others. It’s fun to move. We don’t have to drudge and tarry all the time. That’s a drag. And remember, the first order of fun is getting out of bed. Don’t make that a drag, either. Turn things into a little bit of play. You’ll be surprised at how productive and relaxing your day could be if you stopped drudging.