Doing It the Hard Way
The Jan. 26 Heath section's focus on exercise neglected the easy and natural ways we can weave exercise into our busy lives.
A short piece I read many years ago, "Do it the Hard Way," extolled the advantages of swimming against the tide of "energy-saving" conveniences, tools, and vehicles we take for granted. I don't recall the specifics, but they were along these lines:
• Take the stairs instead of using an escalator or elevator.
• Walk or bicycle instead of driving.
• Use a push lawn mower instead of a power lawn mower.
• Use a rake instead of a leaf blower.
• Incorporate exercise into recreation.
• Think active human powered sports instead of spectator sports.
The interesting thing about the above ideas is that they are also environmental choices. Each results in less air pollution by not using fuel or electrical energy generated mostly by burning coal; each is quieter. The other is that these alternatives frequently do not take extra time or cost, unlike a trip to the gym. Even just parking at the far end of a parking lot can save time compared with searching for the closest parking space.
Opportunities for exercise are everywhere; just do it the hard way.
