Exercising is like shelling peas.......it clears your mind. and if you are wondering what i am talking about, try shelling peas...it is something that you do not think about. in trinidad, my grandparents worked the land. they made money from agriculture and some of the biggest houses in trinidad were bought with "garden money." there are precious few things in the world that one finds that will completely relax oneself. shelling peas tops the list for me. i guess it is in my blood. there is something that is really unique...no matter how far we travelled from trinidad and how long ago our grandparents died, every member of my father's side of the family gardens for a hobby. and it's not just flowers...my uncle plants tomatoes and fruit trees, my father plants peas and sorrel in the backyard (bears for christmas), another uncle does it professionally, and another plants the provisions and peppers. even the aunts do it. you cannot take it out of our blood. and i am pretty sure that some of them could make barren land fertile. that's a green thumb for you.
so back to shelling peas....it's a little skill involved...to prevent staining your fingers. we've shelled peas into all hours of the night. now, we fight to shell it. if my dad gets to it first, we dont get a chance. he hogs the whole set and wouldnt let anyone touch his peas. i guess it clears his mind too. it's a strange thing to watch....everyone sits around a table piled high with freshly picked pods and we shell the peas out of the pod. no one talks...it's like a silent conversation....until nan gets an old pea that has a worm...then she has to scream... and vinod takes pleasure in letting the little worm torture her for a little. it's a race to see who can shell the most....that determines how much you can eat. you earn your fair share of peas. since nan and my dad are the fastest, they usually end up fighting for the last pea in the pot.
so...back to the exercising now....i have been feeling great. walking is something that i enjoy. walking anywhere in any weather is fine for me. i've lost a few pounds but the happiness comes in knowing that i can exercise and run even without feeling as if i will die if i run. after a while, i get on a little high and i feel as if i could continue walking for a long long time. i will admit, good music always helps but i can walk without the music too. sometimes, my thoughts accompany me for the entire three or four miles. they can really occupy my time. for someone like nan, that is way too much thinking...so she needs the music...nah, she acutally can run 4 miles!!!! me, i can only do 1, but it is an accomplishment so far. one day i will do 2, then 3, then hopefully 4. for now, i will think of my peas while i walk tonight........
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