Wednesday, February 22, 2006
No Steps Forward?
I've accomplished a lot this week. Everything on my "To Do" list in fact. That's awesome, right? Somehow, it still leaves me feeling unaccomplished, and I think I know why. I have a tendency to shoot for very high dreams. But I have a tendency to be too busy to pursue them. And what am I so busy with? Well, I posted my pictures on my blog, had my car emissions tested, cleaned my room. In short, all the little nit-picky things that I guess have to be done. But get you no closer to your goals.
I've never liked working out for that same purpose. No matter how many weights you lift, you're only flexing those muscles so that you can lift more weights tomorrow. If you're a desk jockey like me, that workout won't get you closer to your goals.
You can spend an infinite amount of time on maintenance, but it only masks the wasted opportunity for growth. This is why successful people pay others to mow their lawns, clean their houses, cook their food. Not (necessarily) because they're spoiled and have nothing better to do with their money. They're doing more with their time. Instead of some charismatic guy trimming his hedges once a month just to keep them from overgrowing, he is off organizing a charity event, while some immigrant earns his keep.
And this is what I know I need to be. And why I'll never be satisfied crossing everything off my "To Do" list.
I've never liked working out for that same purpose. No matter how many weights you lift, you're only flexing those muscles so that you can lift more weights tomorrow. If you're a desk jockey like me, that workout won't get you closer to your goals.
You can spend an infinite amount of time on maintenance, but it only masks the wasted opportunity for growth. This is why successful people pay others to mow their lawns, clean their houses, cook their food. Not (necessarily) because they're spoiled and have nothing better to do with their money. They're doing more with their time. Instead of some charismatic guy trimming his hedges once a month just to keep them from overgrowing, he is off organizing a charity event, while some immigrant earns his keep.
And this is what I know I need to be. And why I'll never be satisfied crossing everything off my "To Do" list.
# posted by Josh : Wednesday, February 22, 2006
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"I've never liked working out for that same purpose. No matter how many weights you lift, you're only flexing those muscles so that you can lift more weights tomorrow. If you're a desk jockey like me, that workout won't get you closer to your goals."
How much time have you ever spent working out? You lift those weights in order to lift more weights tomorrow because it gets you closer to your fitness goals. Lifting those weights is how you build muscle. There is almost no other way to get bulging bicepts (aside from manual labor involving heavy lifting).
You say "desk jockey" like it's a good thing. Do you like sitting at a desk all day?
I suppose it all depends on what one's goals and priorities are.
I work out regularly not so much because I like doing cardio or weight machines but because of the goal of staying in good shape so I can look good which will enhance my dating prospects (all truth be told). It also makes you feel good, and it has been said that the endorphines released from regular exercise are the equivalent of taking antidepressants. Think, if more peopel worked out, they wouldn't have to bepopping so many pills!
When you work out regularly and do it smart you achieve results that you can actually see and will feel proud of. For this reason athletes are said to be remarkably disciplined and focused people. And let me tell you, I appreciate the amount of discipline these people must have to do what they do. Along with working out they have to watch EVERY little thing they put into their mouths - and it's more than just looking for a kashrut label it is watching all kinds of nutrients that are in every morsel of food that goes into their bodies, often sacrificing taste and aesthetic pleasure.
Perhaps it's a "Hellenistic" thing and once one starts working outyou start to understand why teh Ancient Greeks became so obsessed with teh human body. Obsession with teh hysical is not healthy but denial of the physical is just as unhealthy.
For this I would argue that care of the body as about as important as care of the mind and soul, as they are all ultimately connected, anyway.
How much time have you ever spent working out? You lift those weights in order to lift more weights tomorrow because it gets you closer to your fitness goals. Lifting those weights is how you build muscle. There is almost no other way to get bulging bicepts (aside from manual labor involving heavy lifting).
You say "desk jockey" like it's a good thing. Do you like sitting at a desk all day?
I suppose it all depends on what one's goals and priorities are.
I work out regularly not so much because I like doing cardio or weight machines but because of the goal of staying in good shape so I can look good which will enhance my dating prospects (all truth be told). It also makes you feel good, and it has been said that the endorphines released from regular exercise are the equivalent of taking antidepressants. Think, if more peopel worked out, they wouldn't have to bepopping so many pills!
When you work out regularly and do it smart you achieve results that you can actually see and will feel proud of. For this reason athletes are said to be remarkably disciplined and focused people. And let me tell you, I appreciate the amount of discipline these people must have to do what they do. Along with working out they have to watch EVERY little thing they put into their mouths - and it's more than just looking for a kashrut label it is watching all kinds of nutrients that are in every morsel of food that goes into their bodies, often sacrificing taste and aesthetic pleasure.
Perhaps it's a "Hellenistic" thing and once one starts working outyou start to understand why teh Ancient Greeks became so obsessed with teh human body. Obsession with teh hysical is not healthy but denial of the physical is just as unhealthy.
For this I would argue that care of the body as about as important as care of the mind and soul, as they are all ultimately connected, anyway.
I share your sentiments on working out, I only will if it'll serve another purpose as well, like taking a health walk with a friend I don't see enough.
I think the little things that we do, the ones on our "to do" list is what helps us accomplish the bigger things. Through the less stressful chores we can recuperate for the things that really count.
I like your blogs.
I like your blogs.
Kol hakavod for crossing off your to do list. But don't disregard it too quickly-you can only reach your goals by first taking care of yourself-and that includes your lawn,laundry, lunch, and, of course, your blog!
T - I won't deny that there is something to be gained from every situation. But sometimes we overlook the opportunity cost - assuming we are doing the most productive thing because we are "busy," even though there are much deeper things for us to be doing.
Licious - I understand your appreciation for caring for your body. But so much of working out does become a Greek worship of the body, and end instead of a means. And that is certainly missing the point. Building bicepts up day by day is great, if in the end you need to lift a car. Otherwise, some general fitness will do.
BB - Healthcare is so overrated.
PC - I can understand the therapy of the small things, like the endorphines that Treif mentioned. I'm not minimizing them. But those aren't the biggest goal in life, so we shouldn't let them fool ourselves into thinking we've made it.
Prag - Glad I'm not the only practical one out here. jk
VJ - Accomplishing little goals that are part of larger goals is the ultimate mission. If all those pieces are necessary to make the most of our potential, then surely they count. For example, changing the water in my fish tank might not make a big deal in the long run. But changing the water in the tank of the sick kid next door may make all the difference. Similarly, setting up a bank account may be a detail, but if it is part of establishing your financial independence, it is quite a priority.
Okee - Did all that this week but the lawn. Thank goodness for winter. But that means shovelling instead. And I really do need to bump up my blog in my schedule. And yours too!
EC - Oy. I would definitely put making a list as a priority for you. In the big scheme.
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Licious - I understand your appreciation for caring for your body. But so much of working out does become a Greek worship of the body, and end instead of a means. And that is certainly missing the point. Building bicepts up day by day is great, if in the end you need to lift a car. Otherwise, some general fitness will do.
BB - Healthcare is so overrated.
PC - I can understand the therapy of the small things, like the endorphines that Treif mentioned. I'm not minimizing them. But those aren't the biggest goal in life, so we shouldn't let them fool ourselves into thinking we've made it.
Prag - Glad I'm not the only practical one out here. jk
VJ - Accomplishing little goals that are part of larger goals is the ultimate mission. If all those pieces are necessary to make the most of our potential, then surely they count. For example, changing the water in my fish tank might not make a big deal in the long run. But changing the water in the tank of the sick kid next door may make all the difference. Similarly, setting up a bank account may be a detail, but if it is part of establishing your financial independence, it is quite a priority.
Okee - Did all that this week but the lawn. Thank goodness for winter. But that means shovelling instead. And I really do need to bump up my blog in my schedule. And yours too!
EC - Oy. I would definitely put making a list as a priority for you. In the big scheme.
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