Chungliang Al Huang, the Taiwanese philosopher, dancer, performing artist, tai chi master and educator, said something that has stuck with me.
"Many people treat their bodies as if they were rented from Hertz, something they are using to get around in, but nothing they genuinely care about understanding."
You pick up the rental. You drive it like you stole it. You never check the oil. You ignore any warning lights. Then one day it splutters and dies and you're stuck on the side of the road, wondering what happened.
That's how most of us treat our bodies. We use them to get to work, to get through the day, to get to the next thing on the list. We never stop to understand how they actually work.
I used to be exactly like this. I'd push through tiredness with coffee or willpower. I'd ignore the aches until they turned into a real problem. I treated my body like it owed me nothing, and I owed it nothing back.
Then I started paying attention. Sleep became a superpower. Exercise for strength, movement and longevity. What I eat before work or a big day of exercise - there’s a difference. Even something as simple as noticing how I feel after a round of disc golf, compared to when I slept well or badly.
The difference can be subtle. But I can tell when I’ve got more energy. I get fewer flat days and a faster bounce-back from mistakes and setbacks. That’s because a body that's understood and looked after has more in reserve when you need it.
So, my recommendation - Stop treating your body like a Rent-a-Dent you're handing back at the end of the week. Start treating it like a Lamborghini you own and plan to keep running for decades.
You don't need a gym membership or a complicated plan to start. You need curiosity and to notice what gives you energy. Notice what drains it. Learn your own machine. It’s the only one you’ve got.
Understand what your body is and does, and you will never be short of energy or inspiration.
This Week's Motivator
Your body isn't rented. You own it for life.
Learn how it runs before it breaks down.
Understanding beats willpower every time.
Prompt for the Week
What is one thing about my own body I've never bothered to understand? My sleep, my energy patterns, what actually drains me? What will I do this week to find out?