Fun and Fitness for the 40-Something

Twenty-five years ago, I was a junior in high school, taking Journalism and writing editorials for the school paper. And apparently I was interested in fitness even then—at least for purposes of a single editorial assignment. Behold this simile-stretching blast from the past that I found in a box of high school junk the other day.

“Anyone who cares the least bit about their body should take take (sic) good care of it. In fact, a body should be treated like a car; body maintenance is much like car maintenance.

“With cars, it is often more important how well it is taken care of than how old it is. The same goes for people. Youth and fitness do not go hand-in-hand, just as old age and getting out of shape don’t necessarily coincide. A well-treated car can last much longer with a little love and care, as can the human body. Lasting quality is not a birthright nor does it just develop involuntarily. With both cars and humans, time must be spent and work must be done.

“The work that must be done on the ‘human car’ is called exercise. For long life and smooth running, there is no substitute for exercise. Without it, the body parts will corrode and wear away. With it, the parts function better. With proper usage and care, no parts need replacing, and the warranty won’t need to be cashed in.

“To work properly and last long, a well-running car also requires fuel. Humans also need fuel, in the form of food. But it is important to use the right kind of gas and refill whenever necessary. As with cars, improper fuel can lead to ‘engine run-on’ or, perhaps, complete breakdown. Without enough of the proper gasoline, a body, or a car, will stop running. Of course, unlike an automobile, too much fuel can also make it difficult to operate.

“Of course, run-down cars can be traded in or replaced. Human beings have no such luck, though. That makes body maintenance more important than car maintenance. The drive through life lasts only as long as the ‘vehicle’ is taken care of. Therefore, we endorse exercise and healthy eating so that all can have a long and pleasant ride.”

Wow—is there such a thing as premature preachiness?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 29th, 2009 at 7:48 am and is filed under Just for Fun. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.