Let’s not
kid ourselves… working out sometimes can become a job, a hassle, a to-do list.
But I am proposing that this week, we bring back the Peter Pan approach. Let me
explain: the Peter Pan approach is having a child-like mind full of fun and
wonderment, never wanting to grow up into the mundane, boring, scheduled world which
adults become caught up in as they coast through life. Statistics show that
this change of mind and heart occur after graduating from college or high
school, and that it usually occurs in girls first. I think this is because we
are nurturers and always have so much to worry about and care for that our
lives and minds become over-flowing with things to do and we lose the Peter Pan
approach. We don’t look at clouds and see shapes; we see what clothes and
accessories we need to pack. We don’t see the pretty “flowers” in the yard; we
see the true weeds they are and that they need to be mowed.
I had the
privilege of going to Carolina Creek Christian Camp this past week with the
greatest middle school kids ever. They fearlessly helped me participate in
things I thought would kill me and constantly kept me moving. At the end of the
day I was sore and tired. After a great sermon on how we need to stop coasting
through life on neutral and living an average life, my curiosity spiked. Our
God calls us to a life of awesome with childlike-faith. He says it three
different times in Scripture: Luke 18:17, Mark 10:15, and Matthew 18:3. Just
like the kids trusted the wires and ropes to hold them up on the zip lines and
power poles, I was looking and judging all that could go wrong and if I weighed
too much to participate. (However, they reassured us telling us that it could
hold a bear; to which I asked stuffed or real???)
But back to the real reason for this article:
what would happen if we used this Peter Pan approach in not just our daily
lives but our workouts? We get so wrapped up in weight and PRs and goals. Where
did the pure and innocent joy and fun go? And if you’re getting bored in your
workout, go outside and play with your kids, nieces, nephews, friends, etc.
Sometimes the best workouts are the most fun. Just go ask any new mom and she
will tell you how much she’s on her feet or chasing her little one around. For
example: jump rope, hula hoop, riding bikes, tag, relay teams, scavenger hunts,
kickball, soccer, basketball, baseball, capture the flag, roller-skate, dance,
take your dog for a walk or play with them, swimming, hopscotch, hide-and-seek,
run through the sprinklers, wheel-barrow races, rock climbing, tree climbing,
etc. Go to a park and push people on the merry-go-round, climb on the jungle
gym, and swing from the monkey bars. I hate to throw this idea out there but if
you have people who hate getting vitamin D from the sun, then play some Wii or
x-box 360 games that require you to move like tennis, boxing, dancing, etc.
You’ll be surprised how much you sweat when you just get moving, and you won’t
realize you’re tired because you’re having too much fun! Allow the wonderment
and fun to come back into your life. Obviously, if you’re training for things
or trying to make weight you still need to watch what you eat and have
structured work-outs, but give yourself a break every now and then and go endu
the fun way!
No comments:
Post a Comment