How to Avoid Exercise

 

Do you enjoy your weekly grocery shop?

During the summer holidays, I resumed shopping for groceries. My husband Justin usually shops for us on Saturdays while the kids are at sport. I found that I still enjoy it. Why?

It commences our weekly family obsession of “What-to-eat-for-the-week?” My son usually tags along. For him, it reminds of what we used to do when we had “엄마 (Oma – Mummy in Korean) Stay Home Days” on Fridays when he was in childcare. Sometimes my daughter will come along. Two years ago, they became too big to be able to ride in the grocery-full-cabin of our Nihola cargo bike. I caused a minor rebellion because I asked them to walk. Since then, they willingly walk home and sometimes they even run.   

We usually cut through the park which ironically contains more dogs than children. At home, they help me unload the groceries from the cargo bike to the lift. I’ll park and lock in the garage. Then we all take the lift to our floor and carry the bags to our apartment.

While this process may seem arduous to some, I find that it’s a sneaky way to add exercise to my day (and my children’s). It helps to keep me fit and able to continue wearing my extensive clothing collection.

However, have you noticed how society has created means to avoid exercise or exertion at all costs?

In the past few years, I have become more aware of these forces.    One obvious means of avoiding exercise is by owning a car. The second is living in the suburbs which relies on the first.

My husband Justin and I made a choice to stay in the inner-city years ago. We hate commuting and are content with our small two-bedroom apartment.  We have found that bicycling and walking in the inner-city helps to keep us both active and engaged. But opportunities exist everywhere to avoid using our bodies for mobility.

A few weeks ago, my children and I finished grocery shopping. There are four steps up to street level where the Nihola is usually parked. We had eight bags of weekly shopping to load into cargo bike. I had parked the cargo bike far enough away to allow someone to use the handicapped lift with ease.

While loading the cargo bike, two different men offered to start the handicapped lift for me to raise the shopping trolley to street level.  I declined both times. To the second man, I explained that it was good exercise loading groceries into the Nihola. He gave me a confused look. But it seems logical to me. Use your body to do the work that needs to be done to live well and leave the handicapped lift for those who truly need it.

Happy Bicycling!

X Sarah

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