I have said before that I enjoy rowing at the gym. It's really become something that I've gotten into, and I've worked up to an hour. I've added distance and difficulty as I go, and I am currently rowing about 10,000 meters in that hour time span, on a level 10.
I don't show you this for applause, or for back pats, or such - but to encourage you to find your "thing". Find what you like to do, and do it.
The suicides this week of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain hit me hard, as they did most people. They proved that mental health issues can reach any of us, with any amount of money, any amount of celebrity, and any walk of life.
Exercise is not an end all be all - it will not fix the broken parts of anyone - but it does help. From a study by the Mayo Clinic:
- Releasing feel-good endorphins, natural cannabis-like brain chemicals (endogenous cannabinoids) and other natural brain chemicals that can enhance your sense of well-being
- Taking your mind off worries so you can get away from the cycle of negative thoughts that feed depression and anxiety
For some of us, the thought of an hour is, quite frankly, silly. I know that when I first began, and my husband said, "Get out there and get started!" I looked at him like he had three horns coming out of the top of his head and they were twirling those sparkly fans that the kids love, and shooting bubbles at the same time. I just could not fathom the idea of doing that much exercise. I started slow. But now, I look forward to my time on the rowing machine. It's the best part of my day, most days.
I'm even thinking about joining a crew team. Want to hear something funny, though?
I am not known for my love of the water. Wait, that's wrong. I LOVE the water - I love to be near the water, to go to the ocean, to smell the salt air, to hang out at the beach, to watch the water, to be at peace. What I don't like is to actually go IN the water, when I can't see through it - especially if you show me some big fish or crabs or things you've just caught there.
Nope. Not a fan.
So I told my kids that I was planning to join a crew team and I have this one kid
there's always one kid, isn't there
this one kid, who said to me,
"Um, Mom, you know that crew is done on the water, right? You will have to get in the water, and you might fall out of the boat back into the water."
YES. I'm not that dumb.