Exercise can be Fun?!
Who knew. After all these years of suffering through hours at the gym, sweating my brains out with fellow gym rats, surviving wind and rain on a bicycle, white outs on skis, and black outs on softball fields. I didn’t realize one could always have a good time exercising. Is it time to stop being too serious playing games, too focused lifting weights, too determined cycling 50+ miles over hill and dale? Is it time to get a little perspective and have a bit of fun while doing these things that are supposed to be good for you?
Now that’s an epiphany – exercise is supposed to be good for you. I guess that must not count the 45 major injuries and operations I’ve had while supposedly doing myself good by exercising and playing games. Since I’ve had plenty of recuperating time to reflect and a few decades of stupidity to catch on, I finally realize I must have gone about this the wrong way. What’s that they say about men and women – women are crazy, and men are stupid. I’m afraid on this, and maybe a couple more things, I qualify.
Don’t get me wrong – I had a great time doing all these activities that are supposed to be so good and so fun. I just got carried away once in a while (okay, maybe more than once in a while) and hurt myself. I finally realize the most fun is just doing the activity with others, socializing and having a good time. Winning – yes, that thing – isn’t so important to go crazy and hurt myself over. That’s hard for a competitive guy, who spent his youth trying to prove himself to older kids (and truthfully probably to everyone else), to catch on to.
Age probably has something to do with that. I am, after all, getting older and surviving to tell about it. I smile more now and frown less. Janice will probably say I grumble as much as ever, and maybe she’s right. The difference is I let go of it more readily and quickly. Just let it go. Great advice from a good counselor.
Anyhow, having fun to me means being active and doing things. I’m not big anymore about going out in crappy weather to “enjoy” a bike ride or a ski or any of that. In Pacific Northwest winters that can be a bit of a challenge. I admit I’m pretty much a fair weather athlete now but I think I’ve more than earned the privilege. Just today, a couple of my buddies are braving 40 degrees and a bit of wind to get in a round of golf. They asked me to join but after putting up with the same temp combined with rain the week before with one of my sons, I wasn’t in the mood. The sun’s out though, so now I’m getting texts chastising the ‘old man’ for missing a great day. Oh well. Although I would have enjoyed their company, I want to hold out for warmer temperatures.
I have my moments. I still need to remind myself every activity doesn’t have to hurt to make it worthwhile. I don’t need to feel guilt for dismissing the ‘no pain, no gain’ mantra of the young or overly enthusiastic. At this point, I think anything I can still do is a plus and that I should enjoy it more and worry about all the other stuff less. I no longer run like the wind, hit a golf ball 300 yards or bench press over 300 pounds. I don’t ski 80 mph, run water ski slalom courses or hit home runs. All that is behind me and truthfully, it’s hard to imagine I did all those things and more. I can remember the exhilaration of each of those moments but that is all they are now. Moments to remember and smile over, to recall the sense of inner accomplishment and joy.
Ego makes it hard to accept the limits of getting older, but it’s reality. I almost hate to say it but I learned to play pickle ball last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was like slow motion tennis, and I used to be pretty good at tennis. It’s always about moving forward, but I recognize I have limits now. I adjust my expectations, try to think about excelling less and enjoying more. There is one thing I enjoy less – chores. I’m for fewer chores and getting more fun exercise with friends and family.
In the end it’s about being in the moment; enjoying that bit of time just for what it is. Revel in that graceful, perfectly carved ski turn. Do the next one. And the next one. Stay in that now space and let it bring a smile to your face. It’s just a simple, simple joy. No thought, just one feeling. Let the act of doing wash over you. Let go of everything else.
If anything, the inner peace of skiing and golf bring that joy easily. I have mastered skiing so thoroughly it is often an exercise completely devoid of thought, just living in the joy of the moment. In golf those are much harder to come by, but no less glorious. And when you’re finished with a moment, you have friends to share it with. What can be better than that?
I have to conclude exercise is about keeping yourself moving and active. Sometimes with others, sometimes only with yourself. The fun thing is some sports offer you the opportunity to do both simultaneously. And, I think if you’re really with it, you realize the opportunity to do both exists in all sports. We just have to free ourselves to feel that.
