TGIM: The Life Source

Welcome back to Thank God It’s Monday!

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​tl;dr Water is fundamental for life, but not all water. Running, fresh water is essential, but stagnant water can make you extremely ill or even kill you (shoutout Giardia, typhoid, and some brain-eating amoeba). Just like water, our life is full of vitality when it’s in motion and becomes stale when at a standstill.
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Water is a lifesource. We cannot survive long without it. But all water is not created equal.

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If you’ve ever been on a hike, you have seen the difference in water sources. The waterfall that’s crisp and cool, flowing off the rocks, is pristine. While backpacking, I’ve seen even the animals prefer the water that is actively running off the side of the rocks or out of a PVC pipe. Running water is the water of life.
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A little further up the trail on your hike, I’m sure you’ve also noticed the puddle that has collected in the divet of a rock or a small hollowing in the earth. There’s a slight sheen to the top of the water where organic material and bacteria collect. There are probably some mosquitoes hovering around the little pool. But there’s no inflow of new water feeding the source, and nowhere to drain. The water has been sitting there mostly undisturbed, besides the slow changes from precipitation and evaporation. Even if you were absolutely parched, you probably wouldn’t be looking to this mucky puddle to drink from.
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Our lives are similar to water in that the constant motion keeps them vital. What does a life in motion mean to you?
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It might mean one that is continuing to progress. Do you have current goals you are working towards? Aspirations for the future? Or do you constantly talk about the good old days and your achievements from years past?

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Continual progress forward doesn’t necessarily mean that you are solving the world’s problems every day. It doesn’t even mean it’s going in the “right” direction each day. Progress is not linear, it has ups and downs (trite because it’s true). We cannot continue to grow if we don’t fail sometimes. But failing at something uncovers evidence about how not to do something, so that you can move forward.

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Life in motion also means continuing to physically move. People complain that they get stiff and achy as they age. But that’s not an inherent effect of aging; it’s the result of not moving as much. Activities that children engage in keep them mobile: sitting on the floor, jumping, balancing, hanging, and climbing. When’s the last time you did each of those things? No wonder it’s tough getting up and down off the floor; you haven’t been practicing!

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I’ve met people in their 70s, 80s, and 90s who have such incredible energy from continuing to physically engage with their environments. Walking, resistance training, and yoga are just a few examples of what movement can look like, but ones that will keep the mind and body agile.

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Staying in motion also requires a commitment to keep advancing mentally. A stagnant mind is one that focuses on the past (how great things used to be, old accomplishments, fixated on the same stories). The cells in the brain have an incredible ability to form new connections and pathways if we challenge them to do so. Without challenging what we know with new thoughts and ideas, the brain will physically shrink, and our risk of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s will increase.

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We must stay in motion to stay alive.
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Just a note on what stagnation isn’t: stagnation isn’t watching an episode of your favorite TV show at night or taking a day off from the gym. Recovery activities and making time to take care of yourself (so that you can continue to do the wonderful work that you do) are essential. Enjoying quality time with loved ones and making space to enjoy life is as much a part of a life in motion as doing the work.

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A question to ask yourself to know if your life is in motion is, “Am I excited about the future I am creating?”

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Looking forward to the goals you are working on, the changes you are making, the trip you are planning, and the life you are creating are signs that you are living life in forward motion.
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If you found some value in this, please share it with a friend you think would enjoy it! And let me know if you’d like to be added to get TGIM.​
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This week, my podcast recommendation is new from The Ed Mylett Show, “If You’re Not Growing, You’re Dying… Here’s How to Stay Ahead.”

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With that, happy September! We have four months to achieve the goals we set for the year. What steps will you take this week to get there?

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Until next time,
Shannon