's Motd Fri Feb 8, 2008

[Guest guest]

I CAN'T EXERCISE!

Friday, 08 February 2008

I don't like the word can't. I'm telling you, that word just ruffles my afro! Honestly, I think people just talk too much about what they can't do. I believe if people walked around telling each other what they can do, we'd have a better and much more peaceful world.I get E-Mails from so many people who tell me, I can't exercise. And the reasons why include the following, for example: They tell me they were in a bad accident. They tell me they have aches and pains here and there that make it tough for them to exercise. And of course, they tell me they can't lose weight because they can't exercise. (There's that word again.)Here's my belief. Everyone can do some sort of exercise. And I have proof of that!During all of my years on the road, I have visited many hospitals, rehab centers and nursing homes. They love me at the nursing homes, as much as I love them! When I walk into one of them, I'm all sparkly and everything. And some of the patients at the nursing home think they've died and gone to Heaven! LOL. Don't worry...it's only me! I was at a rehab center several years ago and taught a sitting exercise class. They wheeled all of these people into the main room. Soon, I was surrounded by hundreds of people in wheelchairs and hospital beds.I looked into all of their faces as they entered the room, greeting each and every one of them as they took their positions in the room. I put the music on and you could really see the sparkle in their eyes! Some of them could move their arms. Some couldn't. Some of them could move their legs a little. Some couldn't. But as I looked around the room. I saw that everyone was doing as much as they could do. There was one young gentleman in a wheelchair in that class. He couldn't have been more than, maybe, 20 years-old. He had been in a bad swimming accident that left him paralyzed from his shoulders down. As we were exercising, I looked over at him. I was delighted to see that he had a big smile on his face and was dutifully moving his neck from side-to-side.He was also singing along to the lyrics of the songs he knew. Watching him, I just about froze in that moment. I mean, this young man could move only his head and his neck. Do you hear me? Just his head and neck! Which meant he was doing the workout to the best of his abilities. I have cried about this many times since. I think to myself, look at what some people can do. Maybe you have some physical and medical problems of your own. But I know for sure, like that young man in the rehab center, there are some parts of your body you can move. And I say move them, everyday and rejoice in the mobility you do have!People have come to Slimmons for over three decades and I have watched many of them exercise, no matter what their personal challenges were. So please, please...don't say you can't exercise. You have to tell yourself that I can do some exercise!And, speaking of exercise, have you exercised everyday since February 1st? If not, I want you to think about that young man from the rehab center and get in as much exercise as you can...today!Love,