Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Working it out

Quest by Quotation

Good for the body is the work of the body, good for the soul the work of the soul, and good for either the work of the other. ~Henry David Thoreau

Are you keeping the work of your body and work of your soul balanced? How will you maintain or rediscover each so you can at peace in yourself?

I determined I would make sure I did three things when I started working outside my home again: keep up with my friends and family, read for pleasure, and exercise. So far, I am able to say I have done at least two out of the three each day.

The one thing I make sure I do every day is exercise. Boot camp style DVDs, walking followed by thirty minutes of stretching, strength training using free weights. I do them all, plus yoga burn, meditation, and I am getting ready to crack open a DVD featuring Pilates. I am as eclectic when it comes to exercise as I am concerning books. Being too easily bored, I have to mix it up.

It is amazing how I come home from work, lace up my exercise shoes, and get to it outside or in. I am determined to get the endorphins flowing, banish the kinks from my neck and shoulders, and ultimately put my "job" work aside until the next day.

I do the same in the morning but for my soul, not body. I read The Upper Room, do a class from Spirituality and Practice, read other assorted emails of a spiritual bent. I may save some for the afternoon when I return home, or even for the weekend, but I get em done and have them in my brain for the rest of the day.

I am not balanced yet but I am working it out, working on it, working toward it. Work can be a good thing for the body, mind and soul....so long as it is in proper proportion.