We have all been issued a prescription for physical pain in our lives. Well no, not literally, but in a grand-scheme-of-things figurative sense. In what manner this prescription will be filled is unknown. Never mind science for a moment, let’s look at life like the big, unknown, karma-riddled crapshoot that it actually is. It is cliché to state that we are all dying from the moment we are born, but is that true? I don’t think so. We actually start dying when our bodies have reached their peak of development and instead of growing stronger, begin to level out an then decline. Our bodies and minds degrade at some point, and the physical activities that we took for granted throughout our youth, early adulthood, and middle ages will become more difficult or impossible. How trying and debilitating this period is will depend a great deal upon how we treated our bodies during our earlier years.
While we are all on this inevitable course, the speed that we will reach this destination and its severity will be determined by how much pain you were willing to endure on your own terms. If you were willing to endure regimented, controlled, temporary periods of pain and discomfort, your body will likely be more resilient to the pain of aging.
It becomes apparent which of us have embraced the pain and discomfort of exercise and nutrition with those who have avoided it. This began to resonate with me at high school class reunions – 10, 15, 20, and especially 25 years after we walked out of high school for the final time at 18 years old, it was very apparent that lifestyle choices were taking their toll. There are countless factors that determine if we age gracefully that are beyond our control, but the major one that we can usually control is our own physical fitness.
Atrophy and the comfort of being sedentary are not without a cost. I have a lot of familiarity with the “life is too short” culture; there are countless family, friends, and acquaintances that I’ve known throughout my life that are extremely proud not to value their own wellness. To this culture, life is too short to waste time exercising or eating things that aren’t deliciously served in huge portions. The irony of that mantra is that the life they feel is “too short” is most likely getting shorter, and this short life will be significantly diminished by the physical issues that will be suffered from neglecting their health.
Yes, I’m preaching. But I’m actually reacting to the sneers of my acquaintances at some of my wellness practices. The rolling of the eyes when I return from running a few miles. The shaking of the head or a snarky remark when I pass on seconds at dinner or decline an oversized portion of desert. There are so many that revel in their disregard for healthy practices. In actuality, a number of them may be okay – they may just have the luck and genetics to escape certain consequences for their lifestyle. But most won’t, and when they are accepting a heavy dose of the physical pain that is derived from self-neglect, there may be a degree of regret for not being willing to mitigate some of this pain by engaging in some proactive pain while they had the opportunity.
Sensus Communis 