Let’s Move
THIS
Oh boy… this one is probably where I struggle even more than with positivity.
I weigh 360 pounds, and movement hurts. I talk myself into “extra movement” almost every single day, but most days, I don’t win that internal battle. And on top of that—I find exercise incredibly boring. I genuinely wish I was one of those people who loves working out. I’ve always been a little envious of the runners I see out jogging, wishing I felt that same dopamine rush they seem to get so naturally.
The interesting thing is, I have found forms of movement that don’t hurt and don’t let my mind wander. Bouncing on my stability ball feels good, doesn’t cause pain, and if I turn on a podcast or something to watch, I can easily go for an hour or more. And yet… I still avoid it.
At first, I want to blame the daycare—but nope, that’s not fair. We do dance time every single day, and I could absolutely get up and join in more often than I do. The kids nap from 12:30–2:30 or 3 every day, and that time could be used for bouncing with a podcast. I could play Wii, which I actually enjoy and never find boring. I could even get up earlier and head to the Lied Center to swim laps—something I love.
The truth is, I just haven’t fully committed to showing up for myself yet.
And here’s the thing—exercise is one of the best tools for seasonal depression and depression overall. I’ve let myself sink a little too far this season, and I know it’s time to start crawling my way back out. I need to move. I need to invest in my health.
This is the Body part of Mind Body Soul.
The Body is about movement, nourishing food, high-quality herbal support, reducing reliance on pharmaceuticals when possible, ditching plastics and Teflon, choosing glass and ceramic, using healthier cleaning and bath products, and prioritizing sleep.
If I’m truly committing to Mind Body Soul and 365 Days of Me, I can’t pick and choose which parts feel easiest. I have to embrace all of it—including movement.
So here’s my commitment: 20 minutes a day.
Any kind of movement.
As early in the day as possible.
Because the longer I wait, the less likely it is to happen.
This blogging—this morning ritual—has already been shifting my mindset and attitude. Even while winter feels heavy, I can see progress in how I think. Right now, it’s less about depression and more about feeling deeply unmotivated. I just don’t feel like doing much.
And that tells me this: now that my morning ritual feels more automatic, it’s time to intentionally schedule consistent movement. It’s time to commit. To focus forward.
Twenty minutes. That’s it.
I get to decide whether it’s entertaining or boring.
Twenty minutes is doable.
I don’t need research to tell me how much better my body functions with daily movement—I’ve lived it. I’m actively reframing my relationship with exercise because I know it doesn’t just support the body. It supports the mind and the soul too. They are never separate. They move together.
Anyway… that’s my ramble for this morning.
And if nothing else, I hope you take this with you:
You’re not alone on this journey of self-healing.
