Sound Mind, Sound Body
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by Tim Anderson
“A sound mind in a sound body, is a short but full description of a happy state in this world.”
–John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning Education
For writers, a sound mind is essential. Elusive at times - but essential nonetheless.
But, what about a sound body? Where does it fit in the realm of the writer’s life? Well, for my money, it’s the foundation upon which a sound mind is positioned. A teetering body often yields a teetering brain.
Sure, there are excellent examples of exceptions to this hastily constructed rule. Hmm, let’s see… Naturally, with precious little effort, we can point to the genius of Steven Hawking. The author of A Brief History of Time, he is a renowned physicist and, through his overcoming attitude in his battle with ALS, he serves as an inspiration to us all.
But, what about us everyday folks, for whom mastering extraterrestrial cosmetology simply means spelling all the words correctly? Yes, that would be us - the writers of this world.
Where do you live? Well, I know I virtually live in front of my computer. Actually, there’s very little that’s “virtual” about it. I really live, hours upon hours each day, in front of my computer. And, that’s both the blessing and the curse of being a writer.
As writers, we love the chase. We hunt for the next storyline, the next great paragraph, the perfect sentence, the well-placed comma… It’s sheer delight. But, as we spend hours caught up in our chase, our bodies suffer. The muscles in our necks band together in protest, the feelings in our legs go on strike, and the acids in our stomachs kick off a rollicking parade.
Suddenly - Arghh!!
So, we have to find a bit of balance. I find mine outside, away from it all.
I start each day with a walk. I breath the fresh air, listen to the birds, and pay attention to just about any idle thought that passes my way. Ah… it’s a great way to begin the day.
Then, quite often, I repeat the process, in a more leisurely manner, at the end of the day. I’ll stroll along a path, very close to sunset, and watch as the same birds that greeted me in the morning, now whisk quickly off into the woods for the night. Life doesn’t get much better.
So, while we love to write, let’s be careful. I take care of my body with a bit of a walk each day. How do you take care of yours?
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Tim Anderson specializes in writing health content and press releases. Check out his bio. and other samples of his work by clicking on his name above.
Topics: Tim Anderson, perspective, writing tips, Uncategorized |
July 2nd, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Tim,
Great post. I take a few moments to stretch and I find that really helps me. I also love a good walk.
It’s important to find that balance of time for our body!
thanks!
Sylvia C.
July 4th, 2007 at 12:54 am
I like to start my day with exercise. It energizes me. I always listen to music when I go and ideas will just pop in my head.