Tempted to Move

Thoughts on movement. 

I’m thinking about articular cartilage, and why we have it. Our joints are proof that we were made to move, and not stand still. Articular cartilage is proof we are not only capable, but designed to carry loads, or burdens.

I am inclined to believe that this is not just our physical situation in life, but in fact our bodies could be used as a metaphor for our psychological and emotional composition as well. We weren’t meant to stay in one place forever. We weren’t made to stay depressed, or angry. In the same way, we weren’t made to stay at rest, or happy, or carefree. We were designed to be able to lift and hold loads, and move with them.

However, just as our joints and bodies have limits, so do our personalities and hearts. We weren’t made to carry our burdens forever. We are capable of surviving our struggles, but sooner or later, we have to set them down. Maybe we set down little pieces at a time, or maybe in a leap of faith, or an end of the rope movement of desperation, we chuck the lot.

It has just struck me, though, the extent to which we as humans are versatile. We feel a spectrum of emotions, process things differently, can each carry different kinds of burdens an array of distances, all based on our own unique composition of temperament and experiences.

We start with our personality, and our own proclivities, but our experiences shape us. Some of those experiences are of our making, and by our volition. Yet, some are outside of our control. They happen to us.

The thing that can’t be taken from us, however, is our choice on how we react. We choose which burdens to carry with us, and which to leave behind, because we can’t carry them all. We also choose which direction in which we carry it, and for what distance. We choose when to put it down.

We were made for this.

To be shaped.

The body is maliable, it can be altered and reshaped based on what attention we pay to which parts. Watch anyone at the gym, and you can see the most transformation take place in the areas they spend the most time. Where is your focus?

Just like weightlifting, there is a proper way to lift, and a dangerous way to lift. When you lift properly, and know your limits, you see growth, improvement, and gain strength. When you lift dangerously, there is pain, injury, and sometimes incapacitation.

We have to know ourselves. What are our strengths? Our areas of focus? Our limitations? Where do we need to experience growth, or renewed and improved strength?

We were made for this.

It is not easy. It is painstakingly difficult and sometimes scary. We were made to move. To move outside of our comfort zones. To walk through doors, and into new chapters. To lift and carry burdens, and to eventually put them down.

We were made for this.

So move. Go. Lift. Squat, and lay down. Rest. Get back up. Move forward. Open doors with free hands.

Where will you move? Cities? States of mind? What will you take with you? Will you take all of your baggage or pack lightly? Will you walk? Or will you run? How will you move? Forward? Without looking back? With or without reservation? You can still move.

All you have to do, is go.

And you can.

Because you were made for this.