Twenty- five Seven

Making time to exercise #FridayReflections

June 30, 2016

What me exercise?

I think when God was giving out the exercise gene, I must have stepped out of the queue to stare at the icecream man walking by. Indeed , for me to even exercise anything apart from my mandibles is a Herculean task. Alas! God didn’t endow me with a slim and sexy body, I have to not only watch what I eat but watch how I move . And as I get older , I realise that I have to be more particular about exercise if only to remain healthy and fit . Luckily for me, my classmates have a Whatsapp group and send cheery messages like this

Tip 1 :

Get on to a what’s app group of peers who remind you to exercise early in the morning. There’s nothing like motivational messages like this with news about classmates who are sick, dead or dying that make you leap out of bed and into your running shoes .

Tip 2 :

Good exercise gear. Apart from exercising my mandibles, I also like to stretch other muscles and my favourite form of exercise is walking . There’s nothing like a brisk walk in the open air , be it a park, the sea side, a busy road or even in the building premises. What really gets me in the mood , though, is a nice set of tracks and Ts. A good pair of walking shoes, trendy exercise clothes are a great reason for me to move my butt.

Tip 3 : Set Short term realistic goals . If I know I have a wedding to attend, a school reunion or even a holiday in the near future, I immediately set myself a target of getting into shape with small achievable targets. Losing 2 kg is far easier than losing 20 ( which is my actual target) and the thought of being 2 kg lighter for an approaching event motivates me to exercise .

Tip 4 : The spectre of ill health.

Apart from looking good , exercise is essential for one’s well being. Not only do I enjoy an exercise high but seeing some of the older residents of our building walking with assistance or in wheelchairs simply because of poor health due to lack of exercise, spurs me on to get up early and or find some time in the day to make time to exercise.

Tip 5 : Visualisation

Finally what really motivates me to exercise is the vision of me healthy, strong and walking on the beach with my grandchildren, attending their graduation ceremonies and maybe even dancing at their weddings .

I try to exercise at least three times a week. Most times it is a gentle walk while I do errands or a definite 40 minute yoga program. Once in a while I join Hubby Dear for a long walk by the sea but I can assure you that if I had no motivation, I probably would have just lazed around in bed all day long.

What motivates you to exercise?

Linking this up with #FridayReflections hosted by Corinne and Sanch Vee.
I may be a tourist but I am no fool #TheDailyPrompt

June 30, 2016

Dark glasses, walking shoes, unfashionable jacket , huge tote and fanny bag – that’s me in my tourist mode. Yes, I just scream ‘tourist’ even when I try my ‘local’ accent and try to merge with the walls.

There are lots of people like me in this world – travellers, explorers or people just curious to know more. Despite the comfort of armchair travel , there are times when I’m inspired enough to get into my tourist mode and out of my virtual world into reality .

Once while staying at a historic inn in Northfield, Minnesota , I was distinctly bitten by what I recognised as a mosquito. Really? In the most advanced country in the world? But coming from a tropical country where mosquitos abound , I was dead sure.

Unwilling to be fodder for the American Mosquito ( like everything American , it was 10 times larger than its Indian cousin) I went upto the Reception and asked for a mosquito repellent .

“I’m sorry,”she twanged. “This is a historic inn so we can’t use electronic or chemical repellents. You could have this.”

My jaw dropped in surprise as she handed me a fly swatter!
A glass of English paani #The DailyPost

June 29, 2016

My family was one of the many who went along with a group of naval officers posted to Lagos in the early 60s, as part of a contingent sent to help out the newly independent Nigerian nation. In those days it was safe enough for ex- pat families and even though it was over 50 years ago, I still have vague memories of happy times in that place .

We had just moved into our house, a colonial barrack style bungalow which was typical of military housing all through the Commonwealth. Our neighbours were an elderly British couple who had spent some years in India.

I can’t remember why, but my parents had to go somewhere and couldn’t leave us all alone at home so they requested the neighbours to keep an eye on us.

“Be good , ” said my mother as she dropped us off at their home. And we were as good as gold as they plonked us in front of the TV. We really didn’t know what to say to the couple as we just about knew four words of English having been in Nigeria for little over a week ( maybe ) . Halfway through, my brother began wiggling and I glared at him. He stopped for a while and again began looking around . I didn’t know what he wanted but Uncle Tom realised that he wanted something and asked if he needed anything , biscuits? Toilet?

My brother kept shaking his head . But finally he blurted going towards the fridge”Can I have some English paani? ”
Water

This post is inspired by today’s prompt on #The Daily Post – Water