My Happiness Project: E is for Exercise
The AtoZ Challenge means posting every day in April except Sundays, which leaves exactly 26 days – one day for each of the 26 letters of the alphabet.
See my Great and Powerful Theme Reveal – My Happiness Project – for a full list of the posts, updated throughout the month.
And be sure to check out My April AtoZ 2015 Posse, a Twitter list composed of individuals I have every intention of visiting during this year’s challenge.
Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person’s physical, emotional, and mental states.
E is for Exercise
Exercise is great for achieving a healthy body. And of course having a healthy body is spectacular. Good physical health lends to good mental health. Likewise, bad physical health lends to bad mental health.
And vice versa.
Bad mental health lends to bad physical health. Long before my doctor pinpointed my problem with Depression, I was frequently ill and suffered severe body aches. I struggled with back spasms and related problems to the point that some days I was literally unable to move.
Good physical and mental health are not mutually exclusive; the two go hand in hand and one is often a strong indicator of the other. Particularly when one goes sour.
Often Depression robs us of the ability to control our feelings. One thing Depression cannot do, however, is rob us of the ability to work out. Exercise won’t necessarily fix the problem entirely, but it certainly won’t hurt, and in many cases it actually helps improve one’s ability to deal.
I don’t exercise like I should, although I used to be a runner. Now that Spring has {officially} sprung and the sun is {sometimes} shining, I plan to remedy that situation. It’s about a mile-and-a-half from my apartment to my local library. And if I’m really feeling optimistic, it’s about two miles from my apartment to a local diner that sports wifi. I see a new backpack and some serious walking in my future.
It is exercise alone that supports the spirits, and keeps the mind in vigor.
Every day this month I will share a book* about Happiness, or fighting Depression, or one that cracked me up good.
I’m going out on a limb with this one, as I have not yet read it. I was looking for a book that embraced both exercise and happiness, and this one fell right into my lap. I have added it to my TBR list. If you have read this one, please do offer your opinion in the comments!
The Cure for Everything: Untangling Twisted Messages about Health, Fitness, and Happiness, by Timothy Caulfield
*Please see my post “B is for Books” for a full listing of all the books mentioned throughout this series.
The best six doctors anywhere
And no one can deny it
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend
If only you are willing
Your mind they’ll ease
Your will they’ll mend
And charge you not a shilling.
~Nursery rhyme set to the tune of “Yankee Doodle”
Every day this month I will share a song from my Happiness Song List.
Today’s song is “Run On” by Moby.
*Please see my post “M is for Music” for a full listing of all the songs mentioned throughout this series.
- How often do you exercise?
- Do you notice an increase in optimism after a workout?
- Which do you prefer: cardio, weights, yoga, or some other form of physical fitness?
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