Physical Education, Physical Life

Physical Education, Physical Life

My favorite "classes" as a child in elementary school?

Gym and recess. Moving and playing. I think a lot of imagination was used as well.

I learned to like reading and doing some of the sciences, too. However, physical movement and play were where it was at, when grouped with peers and compelled to learn formal classroom things in the days of public education. Playing, imagining, creating, organizing, competing, striving for some order, some intangible essence or meaning, or other noble things as little people...

As an adult I have had to use physical exercises, labor and strength, in order get some of the tasks done. I have earned money by the sweat of my brow. This, in coordination with others in factories, plants, fields, houses, buildings, movie and television sets, army trainings, camps and bivouacs, maneuvers, convoys, orienteering, hikes, and marches.

What percentage of Americans--and expanding beyond our borders throughout the world-- labor with their hands and backs to survive?

With the increase of technology and computers nineteen years into the 21st century many people find themselves in less strenuous physical working environments.

Do we move enough? Do we work hard enough? Do we exercise just for fun?  And is "working out" just for the sake of non-work related cardio and muscle building exercises the right thing?

Should we put our muscles and lungs and brains into voluntary, pro bono projects and better things?

Should our hands work more on things that make all of us better, not just the body and health of one?

Yes. We should work and sweat and toil more with others.

Like in the Army National Guard. Boy Scouts. Sports for youth and the less fortunate. Habitat for Humanity. Soup kitchens and food for the needy.

Move-ins and raking and snow shovelings.

We need to labor, to apply our physical education and gymnasium sessions of years past, to our neighbors. To ourselves.

We are collectively powerful. We can and should toil and sweat for purposes beyond our own ellipticals and weights and work out machines.

Unless all those fitness gyms are the new yoga, the new age spiritually nurturing centers for the body and spirit.