Exercise is Crucial to Overcoming Disability

I haven't written in a while and got to thinking tonight about not doing my exercise enough and...

The human body is a miraculous thing. Its ability to adapt never ceases to amaze me. All too often, it takes a disability to awaken us to the many ways our body can utilize its startling ability to adapt to physical challenges. Over the last two and a half years, I have observed this ability to a much deeper extent than I would have liked. Exercise, specifically swimming, biking and treadmill walks have played a key role in maintaining my health.

In June , 1984, I was told I had COPD. After overcoming Pneumonia and returning to work for two more years trying to live in denial and finally after not being able any longer to walk from my car through the parking lot to my office I was forced to face the inevitable. I was so profoundly impaired that walking and breathing at the same time were impossible. This experience has made me humble, among other emotions. It also has made me realize the importance of exercise in maintaining and, restoring overall health and wellness to whatever extent we can.

Exercising with a disability is obviously challenging, but in the long run, it can be more. In addition to exercise, there is another tool with which we are all equipped that will help deal with any disability. The human mind. Simply thinking about what needs to be done, and what you can do to work with your injury is an important first step. I ask myself, "How does this disability impair my ability to do this exercise and how can I work around that?" Exercising with a disability is obviously challenging, but in the long run it can be more rewarding than exercising without a disability. Not only is it psychologically uplifting, but being strong and fit makes it easier to deal with your disability.

I have extremely bad sinus problems which cause everything from nausea to headaches. This added to the Copd at times make it difficult to be able to function at all. Strength gained from whatever degree of exercise you can do is an invaluable asset when performing daily activities such as walking, eating, and writing. A disability magnifies one's affinity for exercise. With any exercise it not only becomes easier over time to do the exercises themselves, but it also becomes easier to perform every other task in which you may endeavor.

When beginning any exercise program, with or without a disability, there is a "mountain" that has to be climbed. You need the motivation to get started. Being faced with a disability forces you to take on this mountain - you must exercise to rehabilitate. And in the end, exercise makes all of your tasks easier to deal with.

Indeed, a disability often increases the steepness of the mountain in terms of both ascension and descension. Remember God never promised us he wouldn't give us mountains to climb. But, he did give us all the tools we need to climb the mountain And good friends to cheer us on.

your friend
Olivija in Pa.