Start slow ... and steady

 It has now started to happen that sometimes random strangers stop me when I'm exercising - because they're surprised...But more so, I like to think, because they feel inspired and motivated. Just yesterday evening, as I was running, a lady stopped me saying... she wanted to talk to me. She'd seen me exercising the day earlier as well and was surprised at all the exercises she saw me doing. I had done running and then strength training with my coach. And he has been like a taskmaster the last couple of days.. we really did a lot of strength training. So anyway, this lady stopped me and was asking how do you do it. She had been trying to walk up the Taljai slope, but that was hard for her. She was saying she had to take painkillers just because the pain in her legs was so much after the walk. I had to stop her there. I told her that I'd been exercising regularly for more than a year now..And so was doing the things that she saw. It is very important to start slow. There's a lot of enthusiasm when we start, but it is really important to start slow and build your stamina and strength. Please don't start with so much that you need painkillers. Or cause injury to yourself. Realize that you're doing something wrong if you need painkillers. I understand that it is very frustrating not to see results right away, but keep focusing on the small changes that you see happening - like feeling good after exercise, having more stamina, improved mood, feeling less stress, clothes fitting better...Focus on these small changes rather than the number on the scale. The number on the scale is very deceptive - it could be that you're gaining muscle mass and losing fat, so the number doesn't change. If we focus only on the number, we'll not realize this and give up too soon thinking there are no results.

Start slow..Respect your body , but be very very consistent. Slowly your body will adapt to the exercise and you can definitely do more. Be patient with yourself..It's as important as doing the exercises. Consistency is most important, and that can only happen when you start slowly and remain injury free.I'm sure the day will come when you feel good looking at yourself in the mirror. And achieve your desired weight. But always remember - the journey of how you got there is more important than the destination. Enjoy the journey, only than will the destination feel meaningful!! 

Death

Yesterday, I was feeling really good when I reached home.

Unfortunately, my mother had some terrible news. She told me one of my friend had passed away. We hadn't been in touch in a while, so I didn't even know he was not well. But he was a few years younger than me - not even 40...So it was a shock to hear that he'd passed away - and that too of some disease! 

That news brought me face to face with how very fragile life is. We take it so much for granted. And it is surprising but we never think about death, or that it might be so near. But it is...We never know how far away our death is. Death is the only certain thing for everyone in this life - than why is it that we never give it a thought. Why is it that we live like we're going to live forever.

I was discussing this with GG, and he provided a different and interesting perspective on death. The thoughts that were troubling me the most were why is it that some people die so young...They have responsibilities - they leave behind young children - who will grow up without a parent!

GG mentioned that death always happens according to the laws of karma. Only when we're done with what we had planned for in this life, or if we've strayed too much or fallen too much in this life, then it's time for death.  If we're living according to laws of nature, all our divine energies will be protecting us - pushing us to make sure that we give to the world what we're supposed to.. Our divine energies are making sure that we're pursuing our purpose. Purpose is always linked to learning, growing and giving. What we're here to learn, how we can grow spiritually and how we can contribute to this world and to the people around us.

But if we stray too much from our purpose, get too materialistic.,  then it is difficult for the divine energies to help us, guide us and protect us. That's because we've turned our backs on them, we've rejected their existence. 

As long as we're focused on doing good, being good , being happy and making others around us happy, we're living and allowing the divine forces around us to guide us. We're allowing the divine energies to make us the instruments in the hands of the good for the good. So when faced with death, focus on life, focus on how we can live our lives better and make the lives of other around us better and fulfil what we're meant to do in this lifetime.

Death is the time that makes us reflect on life ...And how valuable and precious life is! Make the most of it. Live it every moment by being happy and content every moment.