Category: Fitness

Living a long life?

January 8, 2024

What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life?

Another good question to reflect on. I can honestly say I am aiming for a long healthy life, but I know ultimately my life is in God’s hands.

I do my best to eat a healthy vegetarian diet. Studies looking at the Blue Zones show people who eat mostly plant based live on average 10 years longer and are much healthier. Some live to be 100 and still work in their gardens or fields!

I do other things mentioned in the Blue Zone studies like exercise regularly, have a sense of purpose in helping others, I have a strong faith and I have people around me who love and care for me and I them. So from that perspective I am travelling well.

In saying this though, I know my life is 100% completely and totally in God’s hands. He holds my life, my destiny and my breath. When He takes my breath, I will go to be with Him… for eternity.

Knowing this, my life is about God and His Kingdom. I am here because He wants and needs me here. I still have things to do for Him if I still have breath and my heart is beating.

Does this mean I do not think about my life and the things I want to do? Of course not. I want to be here to enjoy this world, love my family, achieve some of my personal goals and look after my body. But this is overshadowed by the eternal realities of life. I am just here for a season and one day it will end.

The key for me is to live my life in light of eternity. I need to set my heart and mind on things above and not on earthy things (Colossians 3:1-2). I need to remember that ultimately I am a citizen of heaven and I need to eagerly await the return of my Lord Jesus (Philippians 3:20). This is the eternal hope we have in Christ.

So yes I want to live a long and healthy life. Maybe even make it to 90 or 100. But this all depends on God and He can call me home at any time. My life is in His hands and I would not want it any other way. He is my life now, and will be my life for all eternity.

Favourite exercise

December 14, 2023

What are your favorite physical activities or exercises?

My favourite exercise by far is weight training. I started doing weights when I was 18 and have trained either 3 or 4 days a week since then.

I love the feeling of the workout pump and how you feel the rest of the week. My gym sessions usually last about 30 minutes but I feel the results the other 160 plus hours of the week.

I started weights to strengthen my muscles to support my joints when I had Rheumatoid Arthritis. But before long I realised it helped me get stronger, be more flexible and kept my muscles toned.

Weight training has become such a big part of my life that I can see myself doing it for the rest of my days on earth.

Morning or night person

December 5, 2023
A photo I took on my way to work as a school Chaplain.

Are you more of a night or morning person?

This one is a very easy one for me to answer. But first I will give you a hint. Every morning my alarm goes off at 500am and an alarm goes off at 800pm at night.

Yes I am a morning person. I love to get up with the sun and exercise. In winter it is an hour or two before the sun. I have done this for as along as I can remember…at least 35 years.

I like the morning as it means I can get up before everyone else in my house and start my day in the gym or on the bike. I love this time alone to get fit and also to order my thoughts before my day starts.

Getting up early was especially good when my kids were small. It meant I could get my exercise done, go to work, come home and just be with my family. I did not have to leave them to exercise. I could be fully present.

The only time it is hard for me being a morning person is if we go out at night. People are used to me running out of energy when 800pm comes around. I got home at 900pm recently and I was asleep by 912pm lol.

So yes I am a morning person. I love seeing the sun rise and getting my exercise endorphins first thing before my day really starts.