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Reflections April 2012

Inside Out and Round About

Spring Is Hiding Just Around the Corner

By Patrick M. Kennedy

“Behold my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love,” said that early philosopher and Native American chief, Sitting Bull.

Spring is approaching and is just around that far corner, just past winter. There are so many things to look forward to -- like more sun, attractive gardens, no snow, maybe rain but just for a while, and all those activities that keep the muscles and joints from freezing up in sore knots. “Behold my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love,” said that early philosopher and Native American chief, Sitting Bull.

Warm weather comes and some seniors opt to sit around and play cards, but not you. Some may want to learn how to get wet and catch fish and become involved in all the rituals and debasing situations it puts them in. “Why do it?’ you may have asked, but half the fun of fishing is just relaxing outside on or near the water. Of course, the other half is maybe catching a fish to fry. If you haven’t done it before, special techniques must be learned, like, tying the fisherman’s knot, and how to bait a hook. They say, once you get past the slime and wriggling, the tricky part of baiting a hook is getting the worm to stay on. Good luck!

Bike riding is a day trip or a few spins around the block, and a fun-filled and healthy exercise. The air wafting through your hair or across your bare head -- or helmet, as the case and local law may be -- and the drone of bike wheels as you coax your old-bone legs for more speed and extra hill power. Your gloved hands tightly welded to the handle bars as you wriggle from here to there. The feeling and fear you sense in the self-survival control of your muscles and an unknown destination. It’s the best of times. And remember, there are some knee-scraping no-no’s that should be reviewed at the beginning, especially if you ride in a city.

Then you look in the closet and see that pair of tennis shoes that haven’t been smelled up since summer. Remember that old Nancy Sinatra song – “These shoes are made for walkin” ... or was that boots? Anyway, starting with a stroll around the block, the park, or along the river trail is a way to start. Then it gets faster each day. And then it becomes a challenge to make the route faster as it becomes almost a healthy feeling instead of a pain in the upper legs.

But be warned, after months of freezing and near-freezing temperatures, when the first warm days hit, if you’ve been a couch potato all winter long, you may need to start spring fun slowly to prevent injuries, say fitness experts. Injuries during spring exercise occur because of the inactive way of life you may have lived during the winter. Warm weather hits and you want to hit the outside. You set yourself up for a world of hurt because your muscles are not equipped to handle the new motions you are putting them through.

It is extremely important to develop flexibility, ideally throughout your entire body, but specifically for your lower body. Warming up and cooling down before and after exercise is so important. Muscles which were not active during the winter need to be stretched so that there is less of a chance for an inconvenient injury.

But remember one thing: don’t get carried away with spring’s charms and attractions. Remember the sound advice from Redd Foxx, “Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.”



Patrick M. Kennedy does full-service editing and writing and has published several books. http://www.abetterword.com/ and
http://www.funwithretirement.com/


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