Embracing Exercise: Discovering Joy through Self-Care

I used to derive a lot of joy from reading, friendships, food and travel. Until I had my minor surgery in my uterus to scrape polyps (abnormal growths) which were thankfully benign and my thickened endometrial lining last January 20, 2017 at the Cardinal Santos Memorial Hospital under the expert hands of Dr. Pura Caisip, a seasoned obstetrician-gynecologist. Days after my surgery required rest and slowing down, which afforded a moment of reflection and inner musings. I would go down to the pool and gym area of the condo building where I live to smell the wind. One time, I entered the gym and was inspecting the equipment, and a trainer approached me. He made me do some weight lifting and cardiovascular exercises. Then he offered his services as a fitness trainer. I accepted it. Just when I was feeling really down, he was the first person to offer a lift. I took the chance to exercise as a challenge. And regular exercise I did, for three times a week, under the guidance of a trainer. With each passing gym session, I grew more confident kinesthetically, to move and exert effort again, to lessen the fear that I might again bleed profusely. Exercise was a cathartic experience. It was an instantaneous emotional lift, and it kept me going, and going, going, going. It made me believe in myself again. And I embraced it as a new source of joy, a way of doing self-care which I did not take to heart before. I vow to incorporate it in my weekly routine as much as possible until my twilight years, and embrace it as a new way of life. Diet and nutrition will be next. Self-care is a source of joy.