Frozen in Place

Today's post is brought to you from a sermon I preached yesterday entitled, "Get Going!" based on Psalm 1 and 1 Corinthians 1:23-39. I've been preaching monthly to a Latino congregation on issues of spirituality and health and the intersection between the two. Overall, Latinos are in poor health compared to age matched peer groups and are in need of good health information and intervention.

Preparing the sermon got me thinking about my own health journey and the ups and downs that has taken. I started a walking program about 2 months ago after a long struggle with inertia. I have put on an extra 25 pounds and I really needed to find something that could help me get going again. I'm not a health club/gym person, nor do I have the extra cash for that (running a cash-strapped public charity). I've never been a runner as I always develop shin splints and other leg issues. It finally hit me that I could just walk, and that walking was every bit as good as other forms of exercise (yes, I am a slow learner). ;-) So, 6 mornings each week I walk up and down the hills around my home at a reasonably brisk pace. I'm toning up and some weight is leaving, but the most interesting thing is the change in my attitude about other healthy choices in my life. I am adjusting my diet to aid in my walking program. I'm walking instead of driving on many errands.

It is true that once a healthy life choice is made and committed to, other healthy choices follow. The folks at "Small Step" understand this (www.smallstep.gov). A governmental website that promotes doing little things to get started and to build from those successes. They have a wealth of information and tips, an e-newsletter, tips on healthy eating and reasonable goal setting. A very practical website, and by my estimation, the best one that you've never heard of.

So this week, just get going. Start small like I did with a walking program or other endeavor that you commit to doing for the next month. Try to do this new thing at least 5 days each week. You may have to get up a bit earlier, or adjust your "normal" routine, but it will pay off. Set reasonable goals - for example: you didn't get overweight in a week, so don't expect the extra weight to come off in a week. Settle in for the long haul, but look at that long haul one day at a time. In this way, you'll avoid being frozen in place by the size of the task. Inertia really is a very strong force - but it is also a physical reality that bodies in motion tend to stay in motion.

Peace for the journey!
Dan