Today when I got home from work, the weather out side was so good, I couldn't help taking some time to go out for a run and get another couple of miles logged into my Nike app. I'm soooo glad I did, I don't know how many more days of good weather we have left to enjoy before the snow comes and decides not to leave.
I really love running; sure, I don't do it as often as I'd like, but I know how good it is for me. Not only does it feel good physically to be fit, it helps me out emotionally and spiritually as well!
On my mission, I didn't have very consistent exercise habits like I probably should have until the last area I transferred into. My companion ran cross country in high school, so that's what he wanted to do every day. Thanks to him, I set very firm habits of getting up and running almost every day for the rest of my mission. It continued to carry on, even after he transferred and I got a new companion. I'm really glad I kept up with it, even through the winter months.
While I was in the field, I studied the Missionary Handbook every day and would often ponder over the wisdom and reasoning behind each of the different rules, why they were important enough to make mandatory for each servant of the Lord. I knew there were benefits to exercise, but wondered why I had to get up early to work out, even though my primary mode of transportation was a bike (and rode my fair share of hills, too). I came to understand the reasoning behind this rule after I read this article in the "Liahona," a magazine produced by the LDS church. In the article, Elder Adrian Ochoa explains that our spiritual, emotional, and physical sides are all connected, and that strength (or weakness) in each area has an effect on the others. As I continued to run, I noticed a different in how awake, happy, and full of the Spirit I felt during the day. I knew that the reason the Lord wanted His missionaries up at 6:30 am exercising was to make sure that they'd stay happy and healthy on a regular basis. This understanding helped strengthen my belief in the commandments as a method to living a happy life, not just rules to "keep us from having fun."
I'm glad I have a healthy body and want to keep it that way. If you feel sad or need a pick-me-up, I would recommend a run, some weight training, or a good amount of time spent doing yoga. It's all good stuff, and it'll make you happy, that I can promise you.
Enjoy the good weather while you can!
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