The pursuit of “well-centered fitness” is not always easy. Change is hard. Growth is even harder—as it must be. I spend my morning getting centered and building positive momentum to start my day. Not long after, I am bombarded with forces that would counter this momentum. I think I spend most of my 1-hour commute trying not to completely reverse my attitude. It is all part of the process.
Attempting to cultivate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control is not unlike tilling the soil of a garden (hence, the notion of cultivating). There will be hard soil, rocks, roots, and other obstacles. Is not just water and sunshine that are necessary to cultivate growth. Sometimes, it takes a bit of fertilizer—manure—too.
I have a choice on my commute. I can let the weeds invade and avoid the hard labor of cultivation, or I can get dirty and sweaty and deal with the hard work of resolving my weakness (‘cause I am never going to affect the other drivers on the road).
Many days, I am drained of my positivity before I arrive at work. (Honestly, most days, it is before I get onto the highway.) Next, of course, I have to deal with a day of work and the return commute. It can be exhausting.
Well-centered fitness is a constant effort—Spiritually, Physically, Intellectually, Emotionally, and Socially. I like to say that the same principles of adaptation in exercise science apply—overload, progression, specificity, and, no doubt, reversibility. Recovery and rejuvenation are also important. We must make the time for the things that recharge us—that allow us to recover. There is no benefit is avoiding the stresses and aggravations in our lives. We are best to face them and learn and grow from them.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!