Longevity Minded - The Physical Art of Not Being Lonely
After the final bell rang in my high school, I would speed walk to my locker to collect my shoes, athletic clothing, and three protein shakers — one for water, one for protein, one for amino acids — then trudge across the field and through a plaza, arriving at the gym. Blasting loud music through my earbuds to keep me company and sustain my energy, I warmed up and worked out alone. I intentionally kept my gaze down to avoid the possibility of sparking a conversation with another gym goer. If someone tried to talk to me, I pretended I couldn’t hear them over my tunes. My focus had to be complete. The gym was no time for smiling or conversation. Part of my identity was being mentally strong enough so that I didn’t need anyone else. I wanted to be self-reliant and independent. But in doing so, I had emotionally and socially isolated myself. Last summer my brother, Tommy Dixon, and I exercised together every day while living at our cottage. I quickly realized that although my solo exercise practice built discipline and strengthened my body, I was missing out on the emotional health benefits of group fitness. My exercise lacked community and camaraderie. Every morning, we rose at 6 am. One of us would start the kettle for coffee and, on chilly mornings, the other would light a fire in our wood-burning stove. After reading for 45 minutes, we would start our first workout of the day. We ran together five times per week, lifted weights three times per week, and stretched or did knees over toes prehab when we weren’t busy writing, walking, or canoeing around the lake. I stopped needing music to get through workouts and instead drew energy from the unspoken bond we were building through our shared pursuit toward a common goal. We were pushing each other harder than we would have alone and becoming fitter and faster. Words were no longer needed to communicate how we would flow through each workout or which running route we would take. We tapped into the unique human ability to thrive in groups which fueled us with a sense of unity and togetherness that was ungraspable when I worked out alone. It became obvious through this experience that my spirit ached as a result of purely solo exercise. An empty space in my heart was filled by sharing the suffering with my brother. We’re living through a loneliness epidemic. Despite the emergence of technology intended to connect us, studies show we’re lonelier than ever. I see exercise as a way to foster the spirit of togetherness. When done alone, exercise builds discipline and strengthens your mind, body, and spirit. When done together, it also creates unity, builds community, and nourishes your soul. Here are a few ways to boost your emotional health through exercise:
If you’re in Toronto, hit me up! I’d love to get together for a run, hike, or workout. Thank you for reading. I hope you found something here that you’re excited to experiment with! My pal and I at the Spartan Race. Much love, Jack You're currently a free subscriber to Longevity Minded. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription. |
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