Exercise
I want to be the flexible person who goes with the flow, lays back, finds the silver lining, enjoys the moment. Instead, I have moods. I have sides, as in, “I have never seen this side of you” or “I do not like this side of you.”
Aging forces me to deal with limits I did not used to have. Once I could run without injury. Now, in the 50’s, I have injuries. And those injuries keep me from exercising. Exercising releases endorphins. Endorphins put me in a good mood. Lately, without them, I am in a bad mood.
Depression and anxiety take me to dark places. I do not enjoy the journey—the sense of dread that sits in my gut. And it doesn’t help to tell myself, “Snap of it. You have privilege. You have shelter. You have food on the table.” Logic does not speak to emotion.
Yesterday, I completed a writing exercise assigned by my critique group—to take a draft of some manuscript and rework it into another category of children’s literature. At first, I resented the exercise, but as I worked on the puzzle of it, I noticed my mood lighten.
I guess exercise comes in varying packages, yes?
Comments
Yes. The act of writing/creating has a powerful effect, doesn’t it? The imagination is a welcome friend…and occasional foe.
Jan 11 July 08
I love that insight— different kinds of exercise. Of course, there’s too much of a good thing too… I’ve been working since this AM, and I’m TI-RED. (“ti-erd?”)…… This blog is giving me a nice little bit of respite (aka procrastination…. both.)
chris 13 July 08
Commenting is closed for this article.
Perhaps the writing exercise was the thread that pulled back the curtain of gloom. I’m glad you’re blogging again.
Guri 9 July 08