Perhaps you have been wading backwater sloughs wearing hip boots searching in earnest for hidden crappie sanctuaries or for that perfect spot for a duck blind. Saturated gumbo soils impede each step you take with the intent to suck you into the quagmire below. A resonating “pop” can be distinctly heard as your boot leaves an imprint into the mud with each step forward. Who knows, 5,000 years from now, some being may produce a plaster cast of our footprint pondering the question, what creature made this impression into the soil and what was their purpose?
Regardless, if someone in the future discovers our past endeavors or not, with each step today, our heartrate increases significantly as we plod our way through the swamp dripping sweat all the way. If you think about it, our ventures into the outdoors are not only providing valuable data we can use, but additionally, our endeavors, at least in this case, are providing a “natural” gym for exercise. Bear with me, you’ll see where I am heading with this. Let’s look at another scenario.
Maybe your work dictates you sit in a chair behind a computer eigth hours a day. A day consists of walking back and forth to the water fountain or restroom and then back to your cubby hole to resume reading and typing. Some of us may drive for hours at a time talking on the phone until we arrive at our destination hundreds of miles away from our home. For those of us sitting in an office chair or behind the wheel, what increases our heartrate other than stress? Are you beginning to see where I am headed with this topic?
After a full day of work, what do you do when you arrive home? Do you immediately go to your chair for the evening news? Do you pull the handle of your recliner and dose off just before dinner is served? Pot roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, with a roll covered in butter sure does taste good after a long, stressful day. A quick shower and back to your chair to watch reruns of Friends or Gunsmoke and then off to bed you go anticipating/dreading the next day. Oh, I almost forgot, while tucked in your bed, do you catch up on all the social media, Facebook, and Instagram, on your iPad before turning the lights out for good? Think about it.
If you haven’t realized it, the daylight hours are waning just a few minutes each day with Fall just around the corner. It’s getting light a little later each morning and sunset arrives just a bit sooner each afternoon reducing the opportunity for “daylight” endeavors. This just means it will be easier to go inside to our sofas and recliners for the winter. As sedentary as our lives are now, it will be that much harder to “move around” when Ole Man Winter blesses us with his presence. Now to the “meat and potatoes”, no pun intended, of my message.
Lack of exercise and poor dietary habits are the root of many of our issues regarding health and energy. I am constantly reminded of the loss of strength, fatigue, and lack of enthusiasm, if I don’t make a conscious effort to get off my laurels and “force” myself to get out of that chair and turn the computer and cell phone off. Here are some tips that will hopefully incentivize all of us to become more active in our stressful, everyday lives.
Discipline is an art that is not easy to achieve. Motivation is the key. One must decide what you want out of life and then take the necessary steps to reach your “unattainable” goal. Notice I said unattainable. This just means the work never ends to reach and maintain a healthy lifestyle. So, what is your motivation? Do you dream about walking, running, going to the gym, swimming, and more, but never get started? It’s mind over matter. No one can get you going but yourself. One must get fired up and “bust” out of your routine that you are currently in. I’ll share with you my motivation and then hopefully you can share yours with me sometime.
I love the outdoors walking the Midwest brush country in search of whitetail bucks. It defines who and what I am, both good and bad. Rest assured; the mountain can defeat you if you so allow. You must be in shape to traverse steep ledges, impenetrable thickets, and high altitudes. It’s depressing when I can’t make it to the top of the mountain, or if I can’t draw my bow due to lack of strength because I didn’t prepare. If I don’t make the grade, I have no one to blame but myself. I was motivated years ago by watching a YouTube video by Cameron Hanes. His work ethic regarding exercise and diet is over the top. In fact, just by watching him I felt energized and inspired.
Of course, it took much more than that. I began by joining a gym. I started out by walking a quarter mile a day on a treadmill. I know this doesn’t seem like much, but it’s a start that will give you a sense of accomplishment that you can build upon. Keep in mind this will be a journey with no finish line, which is a good thing. In time I began doing more and more to continue to build strength, stamina, and resilience. I sometimes struggle staying motivated and it’s hard work, but going back to my chair and the snacks isn’t an option. Also, the dedication you apply to your physical development will also bleed over to your work ethic and you will realize and understand this overtime.
I remember having a “pity party” back in high school after a bad baseball game. I was tripping over my lip looking for excuses and sympathy. I’ll never forget my dad handing me Webster’s Dictionary with the page turned to the definition of “sympathy.” His words still resonate with me, and I quote, “the only place you’ll find sympathy in this world is right here, it’s up to you to do something about it.” He was right, and I haven’t forgotten it. To build upon this, in Cameron Hanes’s videos, if you watch them, he keeps repeating, “NOBODY CARES, WORK HARDER.” Truer words have never been spoken.
So, how do you feel about yourself? Are you motivated to work harder and get into shape to handle the mountain and life’s challenges? Do you find it easy to make excuses for not overcoming your personal flaws as I have in the past? Are you willing to grab life by the horns and make the most of it? I invite you to NOT set the goal to be “average” in life but excel in all aspects of it. Remember these words, “All of us die, few ever really LIVE.” Take on this challenge, and let’s see where it takes us. I bet you’ll be glad you did. Until next time, enjoy our woods and waters and remember, let’s leave it better than we found it.
