An acquaintance came to me complaining of back pains. Now, I am not a doctor, but that does not stop individuals from asking my advice about a particular ailment. I determined it was a muscle pull, given the location and the description of the pain.
I was told a day later that my diagnosis and medication had also been correct. I inquired a week later if the pain had completely gone away. I was told that although it lessened in severity, the pain still exists.
“You know what you need to do?”
“What?” She answered with a wry smile.
“You need to exercise.”
“I’m too tired.”
“How far is the gym from your house?”
“3 minutes.”
“You don’t have time?”
“Yes, after I get home from work. By the time I cook and eat, I am much too tired.”
“Then you will be making time for sickness.”
“What do you mean?”
“If you don’t have time for wellness, then you’ll be making it for sickness.”
“What horrible thing to say?”
“The truth hurts . . .”
It was not my intention to be prognosticator of her eventual deteriorating health, but I have never been one to mince words. I pointed to the pad on her desk, and asked her to join me in a little excercise. I asked her to list with the exception of sleeping what a typical day looks like.
- Breakfast: 20 minutes
- Commute to work: 60 minutes
- Work: 480 minutes
- Commute home: 60 minutes
- Cooking: 90 minutes
- Dinner: 45 minutes
- Watching TV: 120 minutes
“Incredible!”
“What is?”
“Are you sure you didn’t leave anything out?”
“No.”
“What about walking the dog?”
“Normally, I just let him run around the backyard.”
“A missed opportunity.”
“Excuse me?”
“1440.”
“Uh?”
“Based on the activities you listed, and adding 8 hours of sleep, if you even get that much, you used 1355.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You’re given 1440 minutes each day. How you choose to use them is entirely up to you. All the activities you’ve outlined, and the addition of 8 hours of sleep would indicate that on a typical day, you used 1355, which leaves you with 85 minutes.”
“So?”
“By your own admission you have time. So, stop making excuses, and on 3 typical days, do some form of exercise for 60 minutes. Your body will reward you for it.”
“Reward me, how?”
“For starters, a leaner physique will eliminate the aches and pains. You no longer can use the excuse of not having time, but as I stated before, if you don’t make time for wellness, you will have more than enough time for sickness.”
“I hate talking to you.”
“I know, the truth hurts.”
B.M.Booth
Strength & Vigour 