Many times we easily describe someone as being lazy. We have all done it. It’s easy to spot from afar.
What is less common to see and describe is when we become lazy. Like a spider, weaving its web, our level of activity drops just a bit every few weeks. We put off what we need to do for tomorrow. The TV show becomes our excuse to sit a little longer. We think we are tired and therefore stop.
Activity is what makes life more interesting and full of youth. As we age, our stamina decreases and our inclination to settle for less creeps into our life.
Much has been written about the need to be physically active as we age.
What is not written enough about is to make the most of each of our days. Before illness strikes. Before life presents us with situations that will consume us because they lack a clear path to a resolution.
As I get older, the habit of settling for less and doing less, becomes louder in my head. It is a noise that bothers me, for even today, there still is so much that I want to do.
Recognize how destructive becoming lazier can be. To me it is a silent killer. Much more than high blood pressure. Our humanity and its beauty becomes cloudy and dull when laziness creeps into our lives.
Don’t strive for an 18 hour day. What is worth striving for is doing something in your next hour that will add value to either your own life or to someone around you. This becomes even more fun when your partner decides to embrace your new found energy by participating with you.
Turn off the TV. Get off the couch. There is so much to enjoy in life. The longer we fall into the spiral of doing a little bit less each day, the harder it is to get out.
All of us can do just a little bit more if we try. Make the next 5 minutes after you decide you are tired count. You might be surprised how much more you could enjoy once you realize that you were not as tired as you first thought.