One of life’s greatest
assets is to be comfortable with who we are, and for the most part, I am. I like being me. But still I struggle, because there is
something I am not very comfortable with…and this is the time of year when it
haunts me the most. I enjoy a
sedentary life, finding pleasure in sitting quietly, engaged in some of the
many activities that are possible while remaining physically inert. I can do this without remorse on cold
winter days, or on any gray, wet, stormy day. But in the spring, when classic southern California weather
descends upon western Kentucky, and I am sitting in the comfort of our front
porch with a glass of chilled Pinot Grigio, my peaceful repose is continually
affronted by people passing by on their bikes, people walking briskly with or
without dogs, and worst of all, those people we refer to as runners or joggers. They often smile and wave or nod a
greeting, but I know what they are really thinking, “hey pudge, why don’t you
get up and move your ass, it’s good for you”. I wonder, does it delight them to make me feel guilty?
And they are not
alone. It seems I’m always reading
something extolling the benefits of exercise; it helps prevent heart disease,
it promotes weight loss, it makes you feel better, and on and on, ad
nauseum. I am surrounded by
admonitions to get up and move, to walk, or run, or exercise. These physical activity gurus are
almost as bad as the food crazies, who want me to eat plants, nuts, and
berries.
Now it may sound like I
am wallowing in guilt because of all this, but I am not! A lesser man than me might be. But
being the tiger that I am, I have made peace with my sedentary
proclivities. We cannot be or do
everything that others advise us to do.
If we all ran, or rode our bikes the streets would be cluttered with
runners and bikers, and someone would surely get hurt, not to mention the
epidemic of stress fractures that would follow. Drivers would be leaning on their car horns, frustrated and
angry, and road rage would ensue, with even more injuries.
I choose to take the
high road, or my case, the high porch, sitting above the fray and congratulating
myself for not contributing to potential civil carnage in the streets of our
town.
I cannot end this brief
narrative without making one confession.
Although I am an honest and standup kind of guy, I can, on occasion, be
rather devious. In regards
to this jogging/running thing, I have, from time to time, splashed water on my
head and face, wrapped a damp towel around my neck, and wearing running shoes
and shorts, stood at the steps to our porch stretching my legs like the runners
do. To anyone who sees me, I have
just completed my run.
I am not very proud of
this charade, but hey, I am what I am.
Resting with Delia |
2 comments:
Another great and super funny reflection. Thanks for making me feel better!
You made me laugh again, Bill ! And see that I'm not the only one who feels this way! :-) Thanks!
Laurie
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