I resist working out. No amount of data driven evidence that proves that it will increase my longevity and improve the quality of my life can motivate me. I can think of myriad trivial things that I must do right now just so I can delay exercising! Here are a few examples: That bag of clothes that I’ve been meaning to take to Goodwill for six months simply must go immediately. The kitchen floor must be mopped. My desk has to be organized, with all pencils sharpened uniformly. And what about that note that I’ve been meaning to write to Aunt Millie? She’s 95; what if she dies before I send it off to her? Oh, the guilt, the remorse! You get the picture. Maybe it’s one that’s familiar to you, too, with a few slight adjustments.

As I think about why I need to exercise to keep myself in optimal physical, mental, and emotional condition, I recall the words from Robert Frost’s poem. I think many of us read it in high school; for me, it was tenth grade. Little did I know that I would revisit it half a century later. The words still resonate: “for I have promises to keep…” The promises that we’ve made to our loved ones are important. We want to do our best by them. But what about the promises that we’ve made to ourselves, perhaps a long time ago? Maybe they’ve been tucked away in the recesses of our hearts and minds, viewed as unrealistic, impossible, or just plain foolish.

Just think of one promise that connects to your true self, something you’ve always wanted to do. Maybe it’s been so long that you can’t even remember what that might be. If you can’t, then imagine yourself knowing what it is. Yet another option is to think of something entirely new that makes you smile, and promise yourself that you’ll give it a try. Or you might imagine your naively optimistic younger self, and be guided by that part of you that is still very much who you are today, made wiser by years of experience.

In the meantime, sit up, stretch, stand up, take a deep breath, and take a walk, if you are so fortunate as to be able to do so. Just force yourself to engage in some form of physical activity to get some oxygen flowing into your body. Even a little every day, and then a little more each day. Why? Because you “have promises to keep, and miles to go before you sleep.”

Live Spry!