One of the customers asked me why I would bother to go through that. I readily replied that I wanted to be fit, that I wanted to be 'in shape'. "But why?" he asked.
After he left, I thought about this... I let the question turn in my mind, and I mulled over it and picked at it.
I know that I want to regain my physical fitness, and I know that I am prepared to go through any degree of physical discomfort to do so. It was a little harder for me to readily articulate my reasons why, however.... sure, some are quite simple, but there are deeper reasons that I was surprised to discover as I let my mind delve into the question.
On the surface, it would seem that my motivation is chiefly egocentric, and, at least to some degree, this is definitely true. I want to look good, the same as anybody else does, and fitness and health are a huge part of that.
I want my wife to feel attracted to me, to find me handsome, and to think that my physique is sexy. If I didn't want that, either something is wrong with me, or the marriage is in trouble.
I want to find myself attractive, also. I want feel happy and confident with my appearance. I want to feel strong and lean. Being out of shape, feeling weak, and sluggish, and listless is no good from any perspective.
There are other reasons, though, that are a little bit more complicated.
For one thing, I pride myself on my intellect. I am smart enough to know that my intellect resides in my brain, and my brain can only be as healthy as my body. In order to have a healthy mind, it is imperative that my body be as fit and as strong as it can possibly be. My mind is my best weapon, hands down.
I am predominantly a spiritual person. I believe that wherever I go, the world is my temple. And, as the world is my temple, wherever I go, I am the clergy. In order for me to properly observe whatever religious beliefs I hold true and dear, and to do so while not being hypocritical, I should be doing my utmost to keep my body as fit and as strong and as healthy as it can be.
In order for me to care about others, and in order for me to be fully capable of nurturing and loving them, it is necessary for me to be fit, and strong, and healthy. If I am not, it seems to me that by allowing myself to become anything at all less than my utmost potential would allow, I am somehow shortchanging those that profess to love. If I am not giving myself the attention required to remain fit and healthy, how can I possibly be attentive to those around me??
So. There are a number of reasons, all of them good, why becoming and remaining fit is vital... at least to me.
From a strictly health-related perspective, it is be even more important to maintain a high degree of physical fitness. The body is an integrated structure. No one part of your body can be separated from the rest of your body... its all interconnected. If any part of your body is not at its peak level of health, other parts of your body are most likely being negatively effected. From my point of view, if I am not here due to some health related issue that could have been avoided had I taken the trouble to maintain my health by eating right, exercising, etc., none of the other concerns matter. It all becomes moot once I am dead. So, from a practical standpoint, that is all the reason that I need.
That isn't the whole story, though... It is much more complex than that. I want to be at my best. I want to be able to move, to be agile, strong, lean, tough, and supple. I want to think my very best thoughts, and dream my very best dreams... and I want to be fit and strong enough to realize them, and to be healthy enough to stay around long enough to enjoy them for some appreciable period of time. I want to be completely happy with myself, and with my own self image, so that I can love those around me and look out for them completely, totally, and without reservation. In a pinch, should the unimaginable take place, I want to be emotionally, mentally, and physically ready to protect them, and myself from any threat that may present itself... whatever that may be. I was given this gift of a body, with which I am able to move through the world, and experience my life. With a strong, healthy body, that experience can only be better, I surmise.
Suitably Disturbing Image of My Soon-To-Be Lean, Mean Sexy Catlike Physique... You Knew There Had to be a Reason That You Keep Coming Back!
Personally, I can't think of a single solitary reason why I should accept anything less than the very best that I can be. To me, that, all by itself, is more than a good enough reason to go through whatever sacrifice and trouble this journey may require.
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