Again, I was planning on writing about something completely different, but based on today's interactions I've changed my mind. I was asked today, "How do you have the time to go to the gym?" And as Jillian Michaels (Biggest Loser) would tell you, people don't just "have" time to workout. It's like asking someone, how do you have the time to go out to dinner? Well, we all know that we have to make time to go out to dinner, right? We don't arrive home from work and say, wow, I have an extra 2 hours tonight and instead of cooking dinner, I'm going to go out. We might use the excuse that we don't have anything thawed from the freezer (this excuse is used often in our house!), but really, when it comes down to it, my husband and I are willing to take two hours out of our night to forgo whatever else SHOULD be done in order to go have some restaurant food and avoid cooking dinner.
So let's consider the question again, "How do you have the time to go to the gym?" Well, I don't. I do not HAVE time, I have never owned time. I make so many bargains, pleas and deals with this thing called "time" that I'm plumb out of ideas. So instead, I make time. I rearrange, plan, replan - it requires a pencil with an eraser, that's all I can say. I pick up Samara at 4pm every day. Tim works out from 4pm to 5pm, during which time I hang out with Samara - read books, giggle, laugh, etc. And then I go to the gym from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, while my husband prepares dinner. Get home and dinner is at 7pm. No questions asked. It is something I "make" happen. We "make" the time.
When my sister was little, she once asked my mother about Daylight Savings, wondering "how it all worked." My mother gave an answer, which apparently didn't satisfy my sister because she proceeded to ask, "Where is REAL time, then, Mom? What IS 'time'"? And ya know, whether you're five or ninety-five, I don't think there is a real answer. (Well, okay, I'm sure some smart, genious science person might have an answer, but generally speaking) Time exists, but we simultaneously chase it. I haven't yet caught it, I just use what I've got.
And now, more to the point of this blog, I need to MAKE time for my dissertation proposal. Yikes, I have 12 more days to submit a draft to my advisor. Let's get a move on!
Leigh, another great post! I struggle with not wanting to go to the gym so not having time is a good enough excuse for me! But when Jeff says, "Do you want to go to the gym?" I jump at the opportunity to get an hour to myself! whether that's what I want to do with my time or not! I must admit it doesn't happen everyday though! Oh well.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I would have to say that it is a completely different struggle if there are two children in the house. Second, it IS totally a matter of desire, as you say. If I don't want to go I can easily find something that needs to be done/focused on with as much weight in my life as the value of going to the gym. And I think that is part of it. Many people say, "Oh I don't have time to go to the gym." When in reality, I think most Americans don't just "have time" hanging around in their pockets. These days you have to make time. And for me, I know my mental health does sort of suffer if I don't go at LEAST once if not twice a week. So I completely agree and thanks for the comment!
ReplyDelete