The Journey to Health

I knew this guy, he was as round as he was tall. He sweated just getting out of a chair.
Every afternoon he'd be drinking beer and eating some greasy food between smokes.

One day he told me he modelled for a calendar for muscly people, years ago. And I asked what the hell happened? He said that he's an "all or nothing kind of a guy" so either he will work out every day and be a health nut or drink beer every day and be a fat nut (I guessed). I could not fathom this approach but have since noticed it as a common thing (especially with men?) that they prefer to do something whole heartedly or not at all.

I see this as a flawed and stubborn concept. And prone to serious accident. The journey is not gradual, not full of lessons, doesn't get cemented through failure and success. It's not balanced and it's not natural.

And what happens? Either the person looks up at this ridiculously steep path and just does not bother, instead goes and drinks a carton, smokes a joint, eats some KFC and reckons that is much more fun.

I have to admit that when I go too hard then I flip out and end up in the carpark of some fast food outlet secretly gorging on grease. It's too inbalanced - my 'dark side' doesn't get to live a little or at least get to work itself out through the process...

I went on a health retreat for my gallstones two weeks ago. It was called Misty Mountain. (Was brilliant). Every morning we had to exercise at 6am by walking/jogging the mountainous terrain.
As my uphill jogging reduced to a puffing kind of walk I contemplated this mountain and its metaphorical potential to be likened to health. I'm essentially getting to the top of a mountain but I'm going round and round, up and down to get there. Sometimes I'm on flat, running well, sometimes going up and struggling a bit, then other times I'm almost falling down the slope with gravity before reaching another up.

If the pathway had been carved just straight up the side of the mountain I simply wouldn't do it.

Instead I'm taking a scenic health journey. Learning so much, occassionally falling into some questionable habits but I am still heading up to the top of 'ultimate health'! The experiences I've had along the way are cementing the decision to move UP and inspire me to stay up.

[current mood] Fresh Sourdough & Too Funky - George Michael