What is Evolution?

“We began as a mineral.
We emerged into plant life, and into the animal state, and then into being human, and always we have forgotten our former states, except in early spring when we slightly recall being green again.
That’s how a young person turns towards a teacher.
That’s how a baby leans toward the breast, without knowing the secret of its desire, yet turning instinctively.
Humankind is being led along an evolving course, through the migration of intelligences, and though we seem to be sleeping, there is an inner wakefulness that directs the dream, and that will eventually startle us back to the truth of who we are.”
— The Story of Evolution
— Rumi, 13th Century

3.10.2009

Keeping Fit

So, as of late I've been going to the gym. First I do half an hour on the running machine then it's off to weight training. I love weight training and I missed it when I wasn't doing it. There's just something so invigorating about pulling your own weight...or even a fraction of it. 

But this post is not about my experience at the gym but moreso my observations. 

There's this guy who comes to the gym at least once a week. He wears a pull over, a polo shirt, slack jeans and some white tennis looking shoes. His large stomach exceeds the confines of his pants. He wears square glasses and has thining grey hair with a few bald patches. Each time he comes to the gym he has his red bag, containing his portable TV the adaptor and his headphones. He then positions himself on one of the machines and proceeds to walk for 50 minutes while watching TV. 

I find this hilarious to watch, but what was even more hilarious was this Monday. All four machines were occupied. When he comes into the training room a look of obvious perplexity covers his face. He then paces the room, looking inquisitively at each machine. Finally, his eyes settle on the sit-up contraption. He clumsily positions himself on it, his face turning red as his head hangs precariously off the end. He struggles to sit up and barely completes one full motion before he quits, dismounting the machine, panting and sweating furiously. 

He glances back over to the machines. One person seems to be slowing down, so he scampers for his TV bag, which he had carefully placed in the corner, and collects cloth to wipe down the machine. Once the person leaves, he quickly assembles his apparatus to claim his space. Then he wipes every crevice of the machine with the cloth. 

I stare on in amazement. Clearly he has been given an ultimatum by either his wife, his kids, his doctor or all of the above to improve on his health and fitness (indicated by the excess fat hanging from his gut). However he has decided that this would not interfere with his daily news or whatever else he's watching. So he comes to the gym and walks while watching TV.


Oh the Japanese never cease to amaze me. 

iNi

just needed to share that with y'all

NadYa Dee
Penned by on

1 comment:

  1. UnknownTue Mar 17, 11:25:00 am 2009

    LOL! The gym has a lot of interesting people to observe.

    ReplyDelete

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Our Deepest Fear by Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."