Sometimes it takes being away from something for a while to really appreciate it. Sometimes you don't realize the benefits of a thing until it's gone. This month I've experienced a little bit of that.
I've been working diligently on school planning and research for this year's garden. I guess that sounds a little strange for me to do research on gardening but there really is a lot to learn. I'm wanting to grow our vegetables organically this year. We do our best to pay the organic price for the things on EWG's "Dirty Dozen" list. That gets kind of costly and I want to be outside anyway so I'm really looking forward to our garden season this year.
Back to the point though, I've told myself that if I'm going to devote time each day to gardening, then something else has to go. So as I've been taking notes on growing tips and seasons for each individual crop, I've done very little running.
The results have not been good. I've been reminded why exercise is so important and thought that the things I've learned might be an encouragement to someone to get up and get moving. Anyway...
-I haven't been sleeping as well. Today, I came up with reasoning for that that is so obvious, I can't believe I haven't thought of it before. Our bodies were made to move. We have energy that needs to be released. If we don't expend the energy necessary for our bodies to stay balanced in that way, it's no wonder that we have trouble sleeping. There's just too much energy needing to be released for us to settle down well at night.
-I feel mean. I am not nearly as sweet when I don't get my exercise. My streshhold (new word I've coined about the level of stress an individual is equipped to bear) is much lower when I don't exercise. I just get irritated more easily and I'm less pleasant to be around. When I get cranky, I know I need to run or do something cardiovascular. Naturally, everyone around me benefits from that as well.
-I can't think as clearly when I don't exercise. We know this is common to children as well. When their physical activity is limited, they're often diagnosed as trouble makers and referred to a doctor for medication.
Energy is not something that needs to be cured. Rather, it needs to be channeled appropriately. Exercise is a great mechanism toward that end. Sometimes I pray when I run; sometimes I just think. Either way, it seems that the thoughts that felt overwhelming before I began are magically organized into shelves and compartments in my brain. This results in order which later leads to greater productivity and effectiveness. It is a powerful thing!
-Some of you may like this part but when I don't run, I don't write. I have a lot of thoughts floating around in my brain but I don't assimilate them well enough to bring it together in a way that makes sense.
Even with all this, I never struggled with sitting still or listening and making good grades in school. I don't know if what I'm referring to is a result of the fast paced world that we live in or just that my pace of life is different, having four kids, homeschooling, and all. It's busy, busy, busy.
In summary, I've learned that I'd better keep pounding my feet on the pavement at least until I get into the strenuous part of gardening this year. Then I'll reassess.
This list of the detriments of not exercising is by no means comprehensive. I do hope that it's enough, though, to motivate you to "get up, get up, get busy. Get up and move that body."
It just makes life better. : )
No comments:
Post a Comment