I found the key to happiness while working through one of the most difficult illnesses of my life…”Chronic Fatigue Syndrome”. And without its two year struggle, I can honestly say, I would have never stumbled over it.
Chronic Fatigue, in a nutshell, is an overwhelming fatigue and weakness that makes it extremely difficult to perform routine and daily tasks such as getting out of bed, dressing or even eating. This fatigue does not get better with bed rest. You wake up feeling you’ve just run a marathon…every day.
After a year and a half of countless medical tests, losing lots of weight and spending most of my time in a chair or in a bed because I didn’t have the energy to move, I decided to put one foot in front of the other…literally.
I started to walk. My first walk lasted for about three minutes before getting exhausted. I would try to go a little longer each time without much success. But I was determined and I kept walking until I completely wore myself out, and most of the time it only took five minutes or so.
After about a month of walking every day, believe it or not, I joined a gym. My goal was to keep moving for 20 minutes, three days a week, and come hell or high water, I was determined to get it done. For the first six months I felt I was making little or no progress. But shortly after, it started kicking in. As energy started coming my way, I began turning those 20 minutes three days a week into 45 minutes four to five days a week. That was 25 years ago and I still belong to the same gym today.
Here’s what I want you to know. Though I realize it defies logic, I’m going to say it anyway…because it’s true! The more energy you spend exercising, the more energy you’re going to get in return. You heard me right…you will get more than you give. Here’s another paradox for you; you can start tired and finish energized. And you’ll also get this added bonus. The endorphins produced by the workout will leave you with a feeling of peace and wellbeing for hours. This alone should have you running to the gym.
Your exercise can be as little as a 20 minute walk in the neighborhood. But here’s the key…to feel its benefits I’m speaking of, it absolutely has to be done on a routine basis three to five times a week for a minimum of six months. Come on…you can do it for six months. It will be the best investment you ever made.
Here’s your life changer. When you keep this steady stream of energy and wellbeing that working out is going to give you, problems such as depression, being overweight, high blood pressure…you name it, will literally dissipate. Bingo, your key to happiness!
Please, do yourself and your family a favor and don’t wait for life to kick you in the ass to get your attention…take just a half an hour a day to make things right for your body as well as your soul…one step at a time.
If working out has benefited you…tell me about it.
Bill Peak
Putting one foot in front of the other is what got me over major back surgery and back to an active life!
Amen Martha. A good walk on a regular basis can get you through just about anything. Thanks for the comment.
A good friend of mine once told me “you have to expend energy to have energy” and I have never forgotten it. I take the dog on a brisk walk everyday after work for about 45min. and again every Sat.and Sun. mornings. Many, many times while coming home from work I think “OMG, I don’t want to walk today”. But I go anyway, for Lola, and after about 5min. I am feeling better and when I get home I am energized and I feel pretty good.
You have a very wise and good friend Kathy. Thanks for reading.
Having been active through dancing all of my life until i graduated high school, that feeling that you are talking about seemed normal to me. I didn’t realize the difference in my overall mood since i stopped dancing until i started taking this cario and tone class! We work out VIGOROUSLY for an hour twice a week, which isn’t that much, but that combined with walking around on campus is enough to make me feel noticably happier!!! Love ya Daddio-Jo!!
Glad to see you’re reading the old man’s stuff. Anything you can for you health and activity work together to deliver happiness and energy which translates to a bountiful life you deserve. Keep it up. Love you too. Come home every once in a while. Miss you.