To Our Health … Day 4

Maintaining order rather than correcting disorder is the ultimate principle of wisdom. To cure disease after it has appeared is like digging a well when one feels thirsty, or forging weapons after the war has already begun.

Huangdi Beijing, 2nd Century BC

That is a quote from the beginning of the book “Grain Brain.”

When I read that quote, in a way, it summed up where I am in my body life in obtaining better health.

Instead of being inspiring, it was a bit of a smack.

But it got my attention and made me think. My trot to where I am now, physically, has not been the road I should have taken to be in good health at this time.

So … I had to, and will continue to make, choices about which direction I want today and the rest of my days to go.

The choice is mine.

It is also, yours. 

There are a myriad of reasons that I want to turn this freight train of mine around. There are things that I have wanted to do, but can’t, because of my size and fitness level.

I am making a conscious decision to change that. The reward will be an expanded life. I will go places and do things that I have hesitated to do in the last few years.

About 20 miles from our house is a place called Crowder’s Mountain State Park. Yes, there is a mountain there. It isn’t the world’s largest mountain, by any means, but it is large enough that it warrants the name, “mountain.”

Nick and I and Winston went to that park for the first time, yesterday afternoon.

The hike up the mountain is a well-known one in this area. It is a rigorous hike … strenuous.

Rock climbers scale the mountain’s cliffs.

Nick and Winston and I walked on a wonderful trail. It was sandy and wide and in the woods. A four-sheep Gator-type vehicle with three rangers had gone on the trail just before we arrived.

We hear the sound of a chain saw and that motivated our walk … to see where that sound was coming from.

Winston did what he does best, sniffed. It was my third bit of a walk for the day, so I was good. And Nick, whose back hurt at the beginning of the walk, and hasn’t been on a walk in a while, kept the pace, which was slow. Sniffer slow.

But the point was, we were moving.

We came upon the chain saw activity. The rangers had the chain saw out and were cutting a tree limb that was hanging over the path. We watched that for a couple of minutes. The cracks the branches made when they broke and fell, made me want to yell “timber”.

After our walk, we drove to another area of the park. The parking lot was busy. I saw young people wearing climbing gear. I saw others, looking tired and sweaty, who had climbed the mountain.

That is when it came to me.

I want to get in shape to climb that mountain. I want to be able to do something strenuous.

And I think that will be able to do that. I think it might take me a year. So, next fall, or whenever the right time is, I plan on climbing Crowder’s Mountain.

That is what I want to remember through this process. This isn’t just about eating right and exercising and having that be compartmentalized. It is also about expanding my dreams and opening my life to more possibilities.

Can you think of things that you want to do that, because of your health, you can’t do? 

Think about it. While you are out walking today … just go 5 minutes … take the blinders of fatigue, depression, melancholy, fear, off … and let your heart sing. Let your mind wander and think of things you would still like to do in your life.

That is what I did yesterday, and I intend to do it everyday. It might me a longer-term goal, like climbing Crowder’s Mountain, or it might be a daily goal, like, hey, I am going to go for 3 little walks today. Ot, another goal I have, that is closer, is to be able to walk at least a mile to a mile and a half, by the time we go to Seattle toward the end of October.

It’s doable.

So is getting to the point that walking up a flight of stairs doesn’t cause conniption fits.

Thank you to all who have liked the page and have chosen to gather together for this walk toward better health.

The stories I read that some of you posted, were inspiring, heartrending, and wonderful. If you want to get inspired, read some of the comments.

Two recipes came in. I will post them on my website … www.mysouthcarolinalife.com

Instead of remembering the quote that this post and the “Grain Brain” began with … remember this …

“Each day is a new beginning. God gave us bodies that can often heal themselves. And, we are each the captain of our own ship.”

Susan