I’m grateful for the good weather today. I’m grateful for the sunshine. I’m grateful for another day. Every gising is indeed a blessing!

I got sick in 2020 and the doctor asked me to get a chest X-ray. The doctor saw that there’s a small lump outside my heart in the X-ray. He asked me if I exercise and I said “no”. After that, I started exercising once a week. I don’t really have time to do it during the work week but I do intense workout on weekends, usually on Saturdays. Exercise isn’t easy, but it is rewarding. I feel so much better after. I feel lighter. I don’t feel bloated. I don’t run out of breath too easily when I climb the stairs or do other strenuous activities.

It has physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits. It helps clear the mind. When we go out and see other people and things, our perspective changes. It helps deviate our negative thoughts to other things. I am an introvert and I do enjoy my “me” time. I always find something to do at home, but it’s also important for me to go out.

Some people say that we’re going to die anyway so there’s no point in watching our diet and in exercising. There are people who take good care of their health but still get sick, and there are those who seem not to care about their lifestyle but live long lives. I know that our time on earth is in God’s hand. I remember our pastor saying that as long as we have a mission, we are immortals. I believe in that.

However, those people who say that we’re going to die anyway seek medical help for their illnesses. It doesn’t make sense because if they want nature to take its course, they shouldn’t bother getting treated. I just find that illogical.

It’s not an excuse to abuse our bodies. It says in the Bible that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we have to take care of it. Just because we believe that our time is in God’s hand, it doesn’t mean that we can eat whatever we want, not exercise, and not get enough sleep.

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is self-control. We cannot give in to every desire. Plus, greed is a sin, and sin has consequences. If we are not disciplined with our lifestyle, we will definitely reap the consequences. God may allow us to live long in spite of neglecting our wellbeing, but we will not be efficient because of an illness.

I’m not an expert. I exercise not necessarily to look a certain way. I do it more for health reasons. I understand that it’s hard when we don’t feel motivated. There are also times when I don’t feel like doing it. However, because I know that it’s important for our wellbeing, I drag my feet to do it. One of the pastors in our church always say that if there’s no one to motivate us, we have to motivate ourselves.

Laziness is also a sin. God doesn’t want us to be lazy. I know that it’s easier to sleep in when I don’t have work. However, we have to keep showing up even when we don’t feel like it. By continuously doing it, we form a habit, and eventually, that habit becomes a discipline.

If we truly care about our loved ones, we will take good care of ourselves first. We cannot help others if we ourselves need help. Also, I want to be healthy so I can do God’s mission in my life. I want to be able to go where God leads me to fulfill my purpose. I want to be able to do the task that God has given me.