I assume there’s a lot of us that take for granted everyday freedoms we have and our basic ability to function as a human being.
Our ability to perform daily tasks that sometimes seem so mundane and repetitive to the point where they can actually be seen as burdensome.
I speak of tasks like being able to get out of bed and go to the toilet. Prepare and eat food. Shower. Speak. See. The ability to move your body unassisted from one location to another. And to have a brain functioning in a way that doesn’t inhibit your ability to make good moral and ethical decisions.
A quality of life that allows you to perform everyday functions efficiently and effectively without assistance.
Independence is a word that comes to mind when talking about ones quality of life.
We often taken for granted the lucky position we’re in. Living in a country that provides fresh clean air, medicine and high standard infrastructure, education, clean drinking water and the possibilities to create a sustained life of comfort.
All of these help give generations to come the best possible chance of having a high quality of life.
But what about those that are brought into the world with disabilities? That have no chance at all. Not being able to communicate or even operate as a human on the most basic level.
Yes most of us are lucky but spare a thought for those in our country and across the world that are in this position.
And what about those that get brought into the world without sufficient support.
Third world countries where children don’t even have access to basic needs like food, drinking water or shelter. Whole communities gripped in famine and disease and pain and suffering. Where’s the quality of life and standard of living there?
There is none….
And yet I get grumpy when I have to change my bed sheets and clean the house that I’m lucky to have.
Some people don’t even have a bed let alone their own house.
It’s interesting to note how our perspective changes according to the bubble we create.
There’s people out there with no arms and legs and will never know the simple yet wonderful feeling of giving someone a hug and the underestimated connection to another human it can bring.
Then there’s the people that have all of these abilities and luxuries….
Two arms
Two legs
Eyes that can see
The ability to communicate effectively
Ears that work
Education
Loved
Spoilt
Fed
Opportunities to earn an income
To exercise
To learn
To speak freely
To live in comfort
To drink clean water
Have a roof over their head
Family support
Friends
Rights
Independence
I guess everyone’s objective in life is different and that in a sense is another privilege to have.
However I would have thought anyone that ticks all the boxes I mentioned above also wouldn’t neglect these privileges and let their health deteriorate more rapidly than it needs to.
I guess my point is – From observing how life works we only have a short time here.
Some are lucky and some get the short end of the stick there’s no doubt about that.
As we get older our bodies deteriorate and we tend to slow down a lot until we no longer can move at all.
We eventually lose our ability to function and all of the above mentioned privileges start to be compromised.
Why then wouldn’t we try to inhibit the affects of ageing? Knowing very well we are risking all of the basic yet important privileges us lucky ones have at our disposal?
Why wouldn’t we train our body and mind to be more resilient to the affects getting older has on us?
A lot of us wait too late and once we’ve realised we’ve had an abundance of time to train our mind and body but have decided to neglect it, we then expect to be able to change all of it with the click of our fingers.
I’m not saying there’s a point where you’re too old to start but what I am saying is why wait?
Exercise only enhances your quality of life. There’s proof everywhere you look.
If you’re one of the lucky ones and have the luxury to exercise, and know how important it is then you’d be stupid not to.
‘’If you have a body, we can help you’’
Ben
Infinite Fitness Peninsula
