This dinosaur has spent years at university, but I don't think it is helping the thought process

As I mentioned a month ago, when I am not finished with the current book in time to write about it for Friday, I intend to write about some other kind of mind issue.  Finishing the book might be faster than deciding on a topic, but I will try.

In my reading over the last while, I have noticed that books about mind tend to fall into three categories:  physical, philosophical, and, well, woo-woo (Not that I have anything against woo-woo.  I lived in Berkeley for a long time, own several tie-died items of clothing, and sometimes believe my printer is possessed by evil spirits.).  As is often the case, the most interesting stuff seems to happen at the intersections.

The book I’m halfway through and intend to write about when I’m done is an introduction to physical anthropology that I stole fair and square from my kid after he took a course in it a few semesters ago.  It reminds me of much of my college experience because the authors often lay out several alternative and interesting theories with various evidence and then posit that some kind of synthesis is probably most accurate.

For the most part, the synthesis between the physical, philosophical, and woo-woo needs to be home-made.  The physical experts are great on the how of it all.  The philosophers tend to discuss deep content and meta-content.  The woo-woo add the je ne sais quois that occasionally makes sense on some other plane entirely.  So, for example, when I read about Hox genes and the way they develop body patterns and then I go to yoga where we move in ways inspired by those patterns from our animal history while focusing on our breathing, I find connections that improve body, mind, and spirit.

More on excuses...

Yesterday, I posted about the two most common reasons people cite for why we choose not to exercise and how we can overcome them.  Today I would like to suggest that those reasons aren’t the real ones; they’re just the ones we think will get us out of the responsibility.  Really, we don’t exercise because we don’t want to do it.

Not wanting to do it comes in lots of flavors.  I’m tired.  I’m lazy.  I’m fat.  The gym makes me feel bad about myself.  My shoes hurt my feet.  It’s boring.  I don’t want to end up looking like a bodybuilder.  At some point, many of those may apply.

The trick is to find the ways to make working out fun.  Then we stop worrying about being fat, lazy, tired, and all the rest.  We’re too busy enjoying ourselves.

We can try:

•      Going with a friend who makes us laugh.

•      Declaring our own personal theme week:  wacky workout, anyone?

•      Loud/energetic/silly music.

•      A new class or teacher.

•      Bribery:  bubble bath afterwards?  New murder mystery?

Let’s find the way.

Excuses that don't work

The most common reasons people give for not exercising are lack of time and lack of money.  News flash:  exercise doesn’t have to take much of either one.

Half an hour a day, even if it is broken up into ten minute segments, is enough exercise to keep a body healthy.  It’s a much better way to spend a break than smoking a cigarette or eating a candy bar.

Walking is free.  We all do it all the time.  Giving it a little direction is all we need to make it exercise.  Also free:  squats, pushups, pull ups, lunges, jumping jacks, burpees, dips.

We can do this.