As I type this post I am forced to sit up straight thanks to a back brace.
Long story short, I pulled a back muscle while lifting something heavy from the back of my trunk and next thing I know, the doctor’s prescribing an anti-inflammatory, a muscle relaxor, a gel, and the brace.
While sitting at the doctor’s office, I contemplated about the frailty of the human body and our negligence of it.
We go about our daily lives eating junk food, slouching in our office chairs, depending on machines to do our manual labor, not once actively thinking about the abuse we’re subjecting our bodies to.
We don’t acknowledge, leave alone marvel at, the human body’s magnificence until something goes kaput.
And this may be the mighty uncomfortable back brace talking, but I think we owe it to ourselves, and to our loved ones, to take care of this incredible machine that pumps, filters, digests, and does a million other things nonstop in the background.
We take our bodies for granted … only a handful of us exercise regularly and eat right. The rest of us hear about what’s good for us, watch examples on YouTube and TV, follow up on some of the “good stuff” for the time it’s fresh and new (mostly around New Year’s), but for the most part, we are lax about actively implementing serious lifestyle changes unless we absolutely have to.
Like me.
I know the 45-minute afternoon walk I go on every other day isn’t sufficient to qualify as the “moderate exercise” I need.
I know the strengthening exercises I don’t do are good for me.
I know the deep fried pooris and chalupas aren’t the best way to control my cholesterol (but they taste so good!).
I know eating three servings of fresh fruit every day will satisfy my daily fiber requirements.
Yet, I opt to rely on “magic” multivitamin pills, Wii Fit, and saying no to ice cream once every blue moon, because I’m supposedly watching what I eat.
Who am I fooling?
And why?
I know what is good for me, yet I choose to ignore it.
Until the doctor sits me down and goes over my daily habits, or lack of good ones thereof.
Why does taking care of our bodies require a prescription?
Why can’t we jolt ourselves into following a sensible diet and exercise plan?
Why is it so tough to do the right thing?
I am as guilty as perhaps some of you reading this.
But I am willing to take this bull by its horns and make some changes … so I can live a longer, healthier, happier life.
Are you willing to do the same?
P.S. Don’t forget, it’s important to stretch those mental muscles as well.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2010 Mansi Bhatia
You might also enjoy:
Rings so true… Always took my back for granted.. twisted and tortured it in all possible ways. Then i delivered my baby girl and have had a bad backache ever since. I miss my stronger body already.
So sorry to hear about your back, Neeta! I’ve heard many friends tell me that the body undergoes a LOT of changes post-childbirth. Such a monumental event, after all. Hope you’ll be able to regain your strength, soon.
The human body is an incredible creation isn’t it. I think we all abuse it daily even if we think we are doing the perfect thing.
CJ xx
There is no perfect thing — I agree with you on that, Crystal. But we ought to try and do things that are mostly right by this incredible creation, as you said.