Monday 18 November 2013

Joyous (Cartwheels part 2)

I set myself the challenge of doing a cartwheel, in order to show my daughter how to do them. I was terrified at the prospect of this, thus added it to the Torschlusspanik list here.

So the afternoon came and we headed to the backyard. I tucked my dress into my undies (as I learnt to do as a kid with my school uniform - it was pre-skort days). This in itself was astonishing for my little tot to watch and induced a barrage of questions.

Then came the moment of truth. I did one. I didn't smash face first into the ground. Nor did I dislocate my shoulder. There was a stretch in my inner thigh, in a muscle that has not been used for quite sometime, but other than that, it was easy.

And fun.

My daughter gave up after a while but I stayed outside and did a few more. It had been a really awful day that day, with niggling irritations, and little things going wrong, so I was in a fairly dark mood by the after school period but a few cart wheels in, and my bad mood dissipated. I was suddenly joyous.

That's what's got me wondering. I understand it's the chemical release, and the silliness of the exercise that caused the carefree joy that ensued. Why do we stop doing something that makes us feel good? As little kids, we do them all the time. In high school we stop, but why? I don't remember actively thinking that I wouldn't do them any more, I just didn't do them.

The older I get, the less I understand the human aging process. We replace everything fun and joy inducing with mundane, soul destroying tasks. This is celebrated as becoming an adult. What a waste of existence.

So, take my advice, if things are getting you down, head out to the backyard and try a few cartwheels. Within minutes you'll be overtaken by a wave of joy.  Go on, try it!

Linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT. Also linking with the One New Thing a Week Challenge, over at the Mystery Case.

11 comments:

  1. Hahaha. Go you! Yep, Cartwheels. I do the odd cartwheel during cheerleading training and it ain't as easy as it used to be! I need to stretch before and after a cartwheel session otherwise I end up with a headache for days. But it is a bit like riding a bike ... the muscle memory is still there.
    Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit

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  2. Funny you should say this! I was talking about trying this last weekend when we had friends over, but I wasn't game. I might just have to give it a try, once our sodden lawn dries up. I used to be quite awesome at round offs in my time also xx Em

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  3. Yay - I'm so glad you did this. I'll have to try for myself.

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  4. A few years ago I did this with my nieces. We had a ball!
    Funnily as you noted, I didn't do it again. I will never understand this either.
    The other morning Mr4 and I dropped and did push ups (well I did two!) It was silly and fun and I vowed to do this with him each morning, plus my tummy muscles actually felt good after just 2 of them.
    Ah, that fell to the way side too. What the hell is wrong with us?

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  5. I was lucky enough to get tickets to South Pacific last week and Lisa McCune did a cartwheel or three on stage. I was impressed. Sadly my shoulder is currently dislocated but besides that I think my cartwheeling days are well and truly behind me.

    My One New Thing a Week Challenge is now live, you should definitely pop over and link up this post.

    Raych (aka Mystery Case)

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  6. Brilliant advice!! I have not seen a little girl anything but over-the-moon excited while doing a cartwheel - so I think you are right, we let go of so many things from our childhood as adults, that we really shouldn't. Josefa visiting from #teamIBOT

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  7. I would try but cannot afford an injury which would occur if I tried!!

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  8. Well done!! I'll work up some courage to give this a go!

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  9. Yes, good on you Lydia! I always find my mood picks up when I join in with some silliness in the backyard :)

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  10. Isn't it just amazing that doing fun/silly things can break us out of a bad mood. I'd like to take your advice, but alas, have never been able to successfully perform a cart wheel. Will just have to seek an alternative!

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  11. Woo go you! I tuck my dress into my undies when I am cleaning (something I learnt from my mum) and Mr 4 thinks it's hilarious.

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