A note from
Rev. Rob Warren
During my last visit with a doctor, I committed to "walking" more. Monday of our family vacation, I walked 3.2 miles in one hour and nine minutes. Wednesday, a little quicker (added in some faster walking) but still over an hour. So, I prepared myself on Thursday: I made sure I got up and got breakfast, but instead of listening to random songs on my phone, I specifically programmed in songs that were a specific tempo, my "magic number" - 133 beats per minute.
Why is that important? If you can't remember it, listen to the song "Duke of Earl." (Du-Du-Du-Duke of Earl-Du-Du-Duke of Earl...) - this song is "half-time" at 102 beats per minute. A comedian once pointed out that if you're driving down the road and the white dashes in the middle of the road are travelling at "Duke of Earl" tempo, you're probably going about 55 miles an hour, on the other hand, if you're doing "La Bamba" you're in trouble (150 beats per minute - about 75 miles an hour). The secret to a quicker pace was getting away from the slow-tempo mixes on my phone and sticking with 133.
Now - if you forget "genre" of music, and just focus on 133 beats per minute, that gives me a Metallica version of "Whisky in the Jar" - Charlie Daniels Band "Devil Went Down to Georgia" - "Take me Home Tonight" by Eddie Money - Randy Travis "Before You Kill Us All" - "Run Mustang Run" by Lacy J. Dalton - MC Hammer's "Can't Touch This" and a plethora of other songs - all in that same tempo. I programmed my phone and the next day, with a mix of walking, jogging and a few stretches of running, my feet hit the ground in rhythm and I covered 5k in 52 minutes. I may have changed the length of my strides (walking, jogging and a couple of runs) but my feet hit the ground at the same time - in that continual beat. When I finished my 5k, I kept going. 50 minutes later, I'd covered 3 more miles.
Now, I probably looked more than a bit ridiculous lumbering down the multi-use path singing Britany Spears' "Would You Hold It Against Me" but it worked. It got me into what I now call, "Five Good Minutes." Honestly, setting a goal to wake up three times a week and walk 5k will last me about... well, one week. Practicing guitar for three hours a week lasted about two weeks. My self-motivation for things, even if I enjoy them, tends to wane rather quickly. They say it takes 21 days to develop a healthy habit, and honestly, I've got about three kinds of weak before I hit that point. Weakness of mind, weakness of body, and weakness of spirit.
When I quit smoking, I did it in five-minute stretches. I would look at the clock and give myself permission to have one in five minutes. Then five minutes later, I'd think, "well, give it five more minutes..." and so on, and now I can honestly say that days go by without me even thinking about having one. It was the same way with those walks; I promised myself that during my vacation, I was going to walk for five good minutes three times. After those five minutes, I thought "Well, I'm already five minutes from the house, I'm already listening to music, I'm already here, I might as well give it five more minutes." Same with mixing in jogging and then running for short stretches, "give me four measures (16 beats)." Now go for eight, now twelve. And then I'd go back to my plod-walk. I set small goals that were easily reachable, and funny thing is, I actually enjoyed surpassing even the simplest goal.
There are plenty of five-minute chores around the house. Loading the dishwasher? Takes about five good minutes. Emptying it takes about the same. Starting a load of laundry (five minutes) and moving a load to the dryer (another five) - unfortunately putting clothes away takes longer so I tend to leave my clothes in the dryer until someone else starts a load of clothes in the washer. But five minutes would at least get them out of someone else's way, five minutes of folding and five minutes of putting them away would finish the job. I can sweep the kitchen in five minutes (we have a huge dust-mop), clean the stove in... well, it depends on who has cooked. I make a HUGE mess.
So today, I'm going to challenge you to take five good minutes and think up something that you can do in five minutes to build your mind, strengthen your body, renew Your Spirit, bring you closer to God, build your family... whatever. Something that is easy to do and won't take up much time (which makes it more likely to happen) and if it goes on for longer - thank God. But if it doesn't, don't feel bad; you gave it five good minutes. Try something else tomorrow.
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My grandfather was a great story-teller. One day he was telling my father and me a story about when he was a young man -- he could stretch one leg straight out in front of him, then bend the other leg until his hip (my grandfather was not crass enough to use another word) touched the back of his heel. Then he would slowly straighten his leg until he was standing back up with his leg out in front of him. Then he would switch legs and repeat the process, slowly. Then he left the room to get some of his favorite cookies and a cold glass of milk. Then he sat down at his kitchen table and enjoyed his snack.
As soon as he went around the corner, my dad and I stood up and tried to stick our legs out. Of course, they were bent at the knee and we were off balance; we tried repeatedly to lower ourselves to the floor, but each time we would have to put our other leg down to keep from falling over. In the meantime, Grandfather sat with his back to us at the kitchen table enjoying his cookies and milk. After a few minutes, it was clear that my dad and I weren't going to be able to do his claimed trick without hurting ourselves and sat down. Virgil finished his allotment of cookies, got up, rinsed off his dish, rinsed out the glass, then he came back into the room, sat down in his chair and pointed out that there was a mirror behind one of the candle holders on his table and he'd enjoyed watching us try his trick.
Guess how long he sat there watching us while enjoying his snack? Five good minutes...
Rob