2015-05-14 Taking The Body For Granted

2015-05-14

Taking The Body For Granted

   Today I witnessed something that allowed me to properly articulate an idea I have had swimming around in my head for quite a while.

Taking the body for granted.

   I passed an older man getting changed in the change room. We will call him Bob. Bob was getting changed out of his street clothes into his workout clothes. Was that impressive? No, because that is what people do in a change room. What amazed me was the speed at which Bob was able to do so. It was incredibly slow, because he was incredibly immobile. I know it was a slow process because when I returned roughly 5 minutes later, not much had changed for Bob.

A turtles pace.

   When I returned to my desk, I thought about Bob for a minute. I wondered, why? It would have had to take him quite some time to venture to the gym, get changed, work out, and then get changed again and head back home.

So, why does Bob do it?

   I think Bob does it because he believes in longevity, and maintaining what form of movement he does have. I think he probably does it because he sees it as a form of self-respect. Maybe he is doing it to see his family for a few more years. Perhaps Bob is even doing it so he can fight off wearing diapers. I can only speculate the why at this point, but I don’t need to question the desire.

Taking the body for granted.

   I find it very motivating to see Bob working out. However, what about those who do not? What about the average men and women that choose not to take care of their bodies until it is too late (if even at all)? What about the people who decide to take the easy route and not give back to their bodies? What about the people who cannot find time for their bodies, but find time for their Netflix?

   What if one of your friends had food, perfectly fine food, and let it go to waste, daily.

   Would you be irritated at your friend? Would you judge them and their wasteful habits? Would you try to help them make better decisions, as to not waste as much food, because others in the world as starving?

This is health and fitness.

   There are people in the world, like Bob, that I bet would put a functioning body to good use. To see others waste their bodies and slowly deteriorate, I am sure is irritating to those who would do so much more. So, who has the right to disrespect and take their bodies for granted? No one truly does. It is truly disappointing, to do so little with so much.

Respect the body, move the body

If not for yourself, for people like Bob.