The Deeper Meaning Behind Exercising

The Need For Activity

Throughout my life, I have always felt a need to be active. I have always loved to run, swim, walk, hike, lift weights, do archery, play sports, and be out in the world making connections. I even find cleaning enjoyable. I have always had a strong urge to be extremely healthy and fit and to be able to fend for myself. Since seventh grade, I would always make sure to get home, do schoolwork, and then go exercise outside and in my living room. I would make it a necessary event to spend an hour outside running and playing volleyball, and then go back inside to get on the floor for sit ups and push ups.

Why Even Do It Anymore?

To this day, I am still an active member of the volleyball team, and always make sure that there is room in my schedule to do my indoor routine. The other day, as I was in my living room doing my routine, I was thinking about why I still try to exercise everyday after all these years. I started to question whether my exercises had even made any differences to my physical and mental health.

Looking For Balance And Control

As I took a break and thought about why exercising was so important to me, I realized that I exercise because I like to feel in control. I have always wanted to be able to control and balance at least some parts of my busy schedule and be capable of doing things by myself. When I exercise, I love the feeling of my blood and heart pumping and the strain of doing different activities. I love the power I feel in legs and arms as I'm running across deserted roads and surrounded by swaying trees and nothing else.

Exercising helps me to take control of my mind and body without worrying about anything or anyone else. It clears my head and lets me live in the moment. Without exercise I would feel like I was just surviving in this world instead of truly living; I would feel unbalanced and out of place. I wouldn't be able to feel strength and dominance without the activity that helps to improve not only my body and form, but my mind and heart.

The Physical And Mental

I have realized that its okay to be different and to want to get up and be active instead of lie on the couch all day. It recently occurred to me that exercise is more than just running and performing, but its about understanding who I am, how my mind and body functions, and how I can grow physically and mentally.

I exercise to feel refreshed and fierce. I exercise to be able to have authority over who I am and to own my wits and core. When I work out, it isn't only about looks, its about me being able to own my thoughts and ideas, while leading my mind towards critical thinking and quick reactions about my world and the people I surround myself with everyday.