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Several (five you might say) weeks ago, the day before we went back into lockdown, I had a rather substantial "to do list".
Of things that I wanted to get sorted that involved being out and about.
Before I no longer had that option.
Two of them involved going to the bank and the Post Office.
Probably my two least favourite places.
I usually find both a frustrating experience.
Staff often seem confused and surprised at the most basic of requests.
The people in the queue seem as though they they've never been there before and have no idea what to do when it's their turn to be served.
I generally try and avoid both places if I can.
And I had a creeping sense of dread that morning as I was about to do both.
I told my good wife Alex (she's my only wife, I don't have a bad one) this later.
"That's how most people feel about going to the gym" she said.
Which was a powerful reminder.
I do pretty much everything I can to avoid the bank and Post Office.
And millions will do the same with gyms.
Which is a shame if you ask me.
Because whilst banks, post offices and other similar places are entirely a means to an end (no one goes there for fun, presumably?)......
There can be a level of enjoyment to gain from exercise.
If we do it in the right way.
For us.
Or, perhaps more importantly, if we "see" it in the right way for us.
We can find an option that appeals to things we do like.
Maybe meeting up with people we like to see (from at least two metres away)?
Possibly change the reasons we tell ourselves we're doing it?
From "being slimmer in a few months time" to "feeling better immediately" (or variations of that).
Perhaps find a measure of progress that we can see on a regular basis and that motivates us.
Being able to do something for longer or faster or for more repetitions.
I get that it will probably never be most people's favourite thing.
It's not mine.
Never has been and never will be I wouldn't have thought.
But we can probably find ways to make it more enjoyable if we're struggling to find sufficient motivation to do it.
Much love,
Jon 'i-moon' Hall
P.S. My middle name there is, obviously from Ban Ki-moon. There was a lad in the year below me at school called Karl Moon. People called him Tutan. Like Tutan Karl Moon ;)
