Moving Right Along

"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." - Alan Watts

"Finding Angela Shelton" - Day Twelve...

The Thanksgiving holiday was a strange one for me this year. I had to slam the brakes on a friendship and set some boundaries in order to protect myself as I continue healing. I still spent time with my loved ones, but the entire holiday weekend was sort of overshadowed by this weird feeling of loss. I knew that returning to the "Finding Angela Shelton" joy journey would help me shake that feeling. I was so ready to get back to these daily tasks! Today's task: Move!

Uh-oh! I'm not a very active person. I've never really taken care of my body the way I should (a lot of survivors don't). Sure, there was the short-lived diet and fitness craze the year I turned 30... but it was over the moment my dad died. 40 of the 80 pounds I lost found their way back to my bountiful booty, and I haven't exercised regularly since. I enjoy physical activity, but because of the fact that I've basically neglected my health and well-being for 20-plus years, it's just not something I do regularly.

Over the weekend, I had a lot of couch time. I was depressed over the situation with my friend, depressed over spending my second Thanksgiving without my dad being a part of the celebration, depressed over being sick, etc. While I was parked on the sectional feeling sorry for myself, I got so bored that I started exploring the Video On Demand section of our digital cable menu. I found something called "Exercise TV" which promised an array of quick and easy workouts that I could do at here at home. I watched a few seconds of each workout, daydreaming of what it must be like to be able to bend over and tuck your head between your knees and hold it, all the while talking and breathing effortlessly like Pretty Yoga Lady... or how nice it must be to box step, grapevine, bounce and pounce, and belt out tunes with the hardbodies like Billy "Cardioke" Blanks, Jr. and his crew. I scoffed at each impossible (for me) workout. I eventually gave up on my quest for good TV and read two books instead. Turning those pages was the closest thing to a workout that I was interested in at the time.

Fast forward to today... In order to meet today's challenge, I decided to give one of those "Exercise TV" workouts a shot. I chose a beginner's indoor walking program that was a great pace for me, and very pleasantly invigorating. I enjoyed it so much I did it twice. I logged two miles doing this task, and I must say that I feel great! Somehow just knowing that I've chosen to move makes me feel good.

I've read numerous articles and books about how moving is essential to a healthy lifestyle. It's good for us both physically and mentally. I won't bore you with the mechanics. I'll just tell you that this is something I'm going to continue because it made me feel so much better. I feel more relaxed, and I feel good about myself because I know I've made a good choice by getting some exercise. The decision to continue moving has nothing to do with losing weight or looking good, and everything to do with how it makes me feel. It makes me feel... hmmm... adventurous and free. Yeah. Adventurous and free... maybe tomorrow I'll try dancing!