The Meaning of Movement
We often neglect the ability to move until we can’t. Until we have pain. Until we can’t do the things we love to do. We blame our lack of mobility on “old age.” We have all heard old timers say “I remember when I was your age I could do (fill in the blank).” The ability to move becomes a thing of the past.
On the other end of the spectrum, we often rely on interior motives for why we should move. We want to look better in the mirror, out perform our competition, keep mental sharpness, etc. The ability to move becomes what we can achieve for ourselves.
Both of these are perfectly good reasons to move and I love helping people get back to achieving what they used to do or reach greater heights in their performance.
But, I believe there is more to movement than reminiscence of what used to be or self-achievement.
My Why
In chiropractic school on the first day of class, we were instructed to write a paper on our “why.” It was something to be used as motivation and to look back on as that “why” continued (and will continue) to evolve.
My “why” was simple. I wanted to help people get out of pain in order to live healthier lives. I never had any serious injuries or sickness, but it is what I heard chiropractic could do so it seemed like a reasonable answer. I had good intentions but no real skin in the game.
Fast forward to entering my final year of school and I experienced an ACL tear that required surgery and a long rehab period. My world was crushed. I realized through this experience how often I used movement as an outlet. Movement was a way I could fuel my ego. It was a way to run away from my problems and insecurities. In some ways I evaluated my worth by my physical abilities. In all honesty, it didn’t really make me a better person. This time of injury was difficult, but it allowed me to slow down, get my priorities straight, and experience what many of my patients are going through.
My rehab process was rocky and I was struggling getting back to what I used to physically be able to do. I was still seeing movement as something that I did to serve myself. I realized that I had to change my mindset if I were to get better. I had to shift my focus to bigger meanings of movement outside of myself.
Here are a couple of these realizations:
Movement is a way to communicate without words.
We jump for joy when we are happy, dance when celebrating, and kneel to pray. These things are wired into our biology. It is through movement that our actions can really be louder than our words.
Movement is something we can do for others who cannot.
It is the ability to carry someone to safety, mow your elderly neighbors lawn, or play with your grandkids. Through movement, we can get out of ourselves and serve others.
Marathoner Dick Hoyt wasn’t even into running until his physically disabled son, fellow marathoner Rick Hoyt, told him how much it made him feel alive to be a part of the race. Dick and Rick Hoyt went on to finish 72 marathons together.
Every Memorial Day, people participate in the Murph workout in honor of Navy Lieutenant Michael Patrick Murphy and our troops. Most people report that they are able to push themselves a little further than normal because of being a part of something bigger than themselves.
Conclusion
Once I made the shift, I began to push myself in ways that I couldn’t before. And you know what? I kept…getting… better.
P.S. If you have made it to this point of the blog, I appreciate it. Obviously, I am someone who thinks a lot about movement to post a philosophical viewpoint on the meanings of movement. However, the purpose of this blog and all that I do is not just to create some food for thought. It is to create practical knowledge that leads to purposeful action.
So, my suggestion to you is to reflect on what movement means to you, then find one way you can move today that fulfills that meaning.
