A while ago, I expressed the idea that working out in the gym wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. My position was based on one or two experiences coloring my perceptions and also a few things I’d read.
I rejoined a gym recently and have found I feel better for it. Previously I’d done myself a little damage doing Body Combat, which I allowed to colour my view of the gym. I still think the machines themselves are boredom incarnate, and nothing has happened to change that view so far.
I think the lesson I’ve learned here is to be careful of how much I allow my perceptions to colour my judgement, also to listen to my own instinct and experiences over other peoples intellectual views. As a book on Buddhism I’m reading advises, the final authority on what you will accept or believe is you, not a book or priest or the government, or whoever. I’ll try to bear that in mind a bit more.
Lewis says:
And speaking of views - lovely new site design by the way!
17 January 2007, 11:59 amThe Rambling Taoist says:
Another thing to remember is that our views often evolve. What, at one time may have seemed static, may no longer be that way later.
Like you, I have to keep reminding myself of these fundamental lessons. As I age, I often find that food I once found disgusting as a child no longer disgusts me as an adult.
For but one example (though, can we call candy, food?), I had a friend who used to eat horehound candy by the pound. I tried it once or twice and thought it tasted like what I imagine rabbit droppings would taste like. Today though, it’s my favorite candy — it’s also could for warding off sore throats.
23 January 2007, 10:20 am