Exercise

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1000+ Amazing Exercise Photos Pexels · Free Stock Photos
Most of my free time has spent either playing video games or binging YouTube. Those activities were what I pinned in contrast to the doldrums of school. It was enjoyable for me. I would go home, finish my homework, watch 3 hours of DanTDM, and play Pokémon for two. I was happy--until I wasn't.

Around high school, my free time became less of a hedonistic pit and more of a distraction from the impending doom that was homework. My only satisfaction derived from finishing things that I loathed doing...and that gave me an idea.  

I had stoop on both the edge of morbid obesity and being underweights. I had never been comfortable with the way I looked. I never considered exercise as a remedy to my woes, however. For me, exercise conjured up uncomfortable memories of failed Little League and AYSO careers. 

My Freshman self resolved to change that. I signed myself up for my school's cross-country team. The team had summer practices which I couldn't attend; however, I thought that I'd be alright. I secretly internalized praise of my above-average running speed and thought that my genetics would carry me to victory.

I was wrong.

After running 12 consecutive miles for the first time in my life, I massaged my blister-ridden feet and ultimately conceded that sports would never be a part of my life. 

Because of my Cross Country flop, I was required to take my school's version of a PE class, called "Strength and Conditioning." 

I enjoyed my time there. The gym was mainly filled with people like me: people who weren't athletic enough to enjoy a team sport, but still wanted to garner the required athletic credits. I enjoyed the class so much that I kept signing up for it even when I wasn't required. 

The revelation that exercise could be something fun rather than something I was forcibly taken to in a beige minivan every Saturday at 10:00 was baffling. 

Exercise soon permeated my home life as well. It served to my nagging desire to be productive at all times, and it was easy enough to do a little cardio while I put on some anime. 

As I started to work out on my own, I discovered something strange: I was enjoying it. There were no friends to talk to as I pretended to do push-ups, just me and some sweat. 

I had always been quoted studies of a link between exercise and happiness, but I always dismissed them as something my PE teacher had made up to encourage me to run the mile. 

Yet, once exercise was something I did of my own volition and for my own personal growth, I found some personal truth behind those studies. 

This is why I implore the one person that reads this to try some exercise as well. Run in place while you watch TV, jump up and down while playing video games. You'll be surprised at how much of a difference it can make. 

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