TIME TO STAND…
In 2021, my neighbor convinced my household that we “needed” the watch named after a fruit. Knowing his audience, he stressed the capabilities of the watch to track physical activity and that we could compete against him, his wife, and other friends. The tracking concept wasn’t new to us. We had worn one for a number of years, so it took him about a year to bring us around. In hindsight, it wasn’t the specific product but the competition aspect that did the trick. In 2021, we were still immersed in the pandemic, so any distraction was sought – in this case – competing against others two-thirds our age and winning was a good one.
My interest in tracking move calories, minutes exercised and stands per hour per day hasn’t waned.
When I have been a slug and not moved for at least a minute in an hour, the watch gently vibrates. The words “Time to Stand. Stand up and move a little for one minute” will appear on the face of the watch followed by the word, “Dismiss.” Sometimes I comply, sometimes I ignore, sometimes I touch “dismiss.” As the wearer, I have options. In the three-year period, I have become somewhat immune to nudges. I don’t read the message. However, a review of the data indicates that I exceed the stand goal almost daily.
As I sat doing my early morning writing, my fingers ceased moving across the page as I pondered the next sentence. After a brief interlude, my watch vibrated. I felt it, looked down at the bold words, “Time to Stand…Dismiss.” Because I was sitting quietly- no distractions, my attention was captured.
Our bodies, our minds do exactly what the minicomputer on my arm does. They send us messages. We are so accustomed to receiving them that we become immune to them. We ignore their instructions to act or dismiss them by pushing onward. Before we know it, a minor nuisance becomes a major problem – indeed a “mountain is made out of a molehill,” from our neglect or dismissal.
Take notice of your emotions, especially the feelings that affect your mood. Take notice of your body, especially the place where tension and stress exist or a nagging pain. They will only be ignored for so long. At some point if you don’t “stand up” and manage them, they will manage you. We are designed to receive signals, but they only work if we pay attention and act…be it physical, emotional, or spiritual and sometimes all three.
If your goal is to live your best life, then be intentional about doing what your life and body is telling you to do. If you don’t know, seek help. Don’t just sit in awareness…DO SOMETHING.
PONDER THIS THOUGHT—-Knowing is only half of the solution.
