Some days the only exercise I get is jumping to conclusions and running from myself.

I have a free weight set, a treadmill, and a stationary bike at home for exercise inside during the winter months, as well as membership in a fitness club with countless exercise machines and free weights available for exercise.

To me, exercise is simply training my body to respond a certain way when it encounters a predictable situation, e.g. bending, lifting, and stretching. When I am physically in good shape, not much bothers me in a physical way. I can sure tell in a hurry if I am not in good physical condition though, because certain exercises will cause me pain. If I am in poor condition, about everything bothers me.

If I am recovering from an injury, like I currently am with my right elbow, I am very sensitive to touch on the affected area, and trying to exercise it causes me to recoil and protect the damaged, unhealed area. However, experience has shown me that if I do not start to use the right arm and endure a little pain at first, it will just get weaker and weaker, and more sensitive to weight and natural use. I have lifted weights with that arm when just moving it made me break a sweat. I have gone out with my sons and my wife and thrown a ball back and forth when it caused me pain to do so, because I knew from experience that by doing that and other exercises, my arm would improve, and eventually lifting and waving would not hurt at all.

A good test for my physical condition is doing all the exercises in my routine. If my legs are in good condition they do not hurt after stair climbing or walking up hill. If my back is in good shape it does not hurt to bend and lift reasonable weights. If my arms are well and strong they will be okay with training and testing. However, if I have a weakness, the workout will expose that weakness, and then I have a decision to make. Do I protect the weakness, allowing it to go untreated and continue to be a weakness? Do I stay home from the gym because my arm is weak and sore? Or, do I start to exercise it? Do I start to limber it up and make it stronger to eliminate the pain? Do I get strong and well?

A good test for my mental condition is interacting with other people. Similar to weights and muscles, relative to health or pain, is my perception and reaction to what you say or do. A healthy attitude for me is this: "Everything you say and do is about you. . . . not me." A real test of my mental health and my resolution of my issues, is how I "act" or "react" to what you say and do. Every time I take something personal that you say or do, I identify another unresolved issue in me. I have problems and unresolved issues that are difficult to identify. If I become emotionally upset by something you did or said, I have just identified another area for me to strengthen. I have exposed a weakness, or flaw. I have been given an opportunity to improve my health. Every time I run from you when I take something you say or do personally, I am leaving the gym rather that working on the real problem. . . . me.

I have nothing to fear from you. The only thing I have to fear is me and my secrets, as well as the unresolved issues I am protecting. Many of us grew up in unhealthy families and belonged to unhealthy groups where the "Don't Talk" rule was used and respected by all members in good standing. That was a wonderful rule to protect your vulnerabilities and secrets and to keep me away from them. That is a wonderful rule to protect my vulnerabilities and secrets and to keep me in bondage to them.

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