I have been hearing a lot recently about a new killer illness, CES, which has been sweeping around the world. Hundreds of new cases are being confirmed in the UK every day. It appears that nobody is immune, and once you become infected it can be very hard to find a cure.
CES is a very virulent illness, and that those spending even limited amounts of time in close proximity to already infected individuals can be vulnerable. Scientists are speculating that people can be low level CES carriers, and transmit the illness to others before they themselves show obvious symptoms.
Most worrying, it appears that CES can spread, almost without warning, to people with apparently few risk factors. Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the symptoms to almost undetectable levels, but once a person has become infected there will always be the potential for a relapse. The more episodes of CES a person has had, the less likely it is they will find a permanent cure.
CES can leave sufferers extremely unmotivated, low in energy and even depressed. Early symptoms affect a sufferer’s ability to take any form of exercise, and keep them at a level way below that necessary to maintain future health and wellbeing. Even previously highly active individuals can find themselves struggling to keep their basic fitness levels.
The illness has the most profound effect on state of mind, with sufferers often left believing that their symptoms are more debilitating than they actually are. Chronically affected individuals can even start to view their symptoms as an asset rather than a burden, and the prognosis for full recovery is then very poor.
It is almost impossible to identify infected individuals without speaking to them, as a person’s physical appearance is not an indicator. Perhaps one of the best signs is that sufferers often seek solace with those similarly afflicted, indulging each other in a very negative downhill spiral of repeated relapse which can be hard to break.
Not everyone who comes into contact with a CES carrier will themselves become infected, but your chances of contracting the illness go up considerably the longer you are around those who are already displaying symptoms.
If you become concerned that you have CES, your first line of defence should be to distance yourself from other carriers who will be able to easily re-infect you during your treatment. Most damaging are those who appear proud that they have CES, as they are likely to encourage you to accept your newfound limitations, rather than seek a cure.
At this time no guaranteed cure has been found for CES, although anecdotal reports suggest that a new drug called PMA is looking very promising. Although it may not cure the illness completely, it appears that it has the potential to reduce the symptoms to a very manageable level.
The fill name of this mystery illness – Chronic Excuse Syndrome!
Now I think that you all know I am taking the p*ss with my intro above, but before you disregard the rest of this piece, I want you to think very carefully if you are in fact a victim of this ‘illness’ when it comes to your own life. It is certainly something which I have succumbed to at a few points in my life. I am so fed up with listening to people use the terms ‘can’t’ and ‘but’ when it comes to getting off their backsides and actually doing something positive to improve their wellbeing.
I don’t care if you have one leg, no sight, a dickey heart, 200 pounds of fat, 4 jobs, 10 children to take care of, no money, or any other issue which can lead to CES….please get on and do something to move whatever bits of your body you can on a regular basis! I am absolutely not suggesting that you should disregard medical advice or ignore genuine issues, but that you should be very careful how you view your own limitations (we all have them), or the restrictions which you put on your ability to do what is right for your long-term health and wellbeing.
Society seems to be riddled with people looking for the easy option, the magic pill, the short cut, the instant gratification…..….anything which enables us to avoid taking absolute responsibility for where we are in life and our future. So often when it comes to exercise, people are going to start tomorrow, when they get back from holiday, when they can afford to join a gym, when their knees/hips/back/other body part gets better, when they have more time etc. I am not much of a betting person, but I will put money of the fact that those times will never come. The only perfect moment is now!
We all have obstacles to overcome, and reasons not to live out our destiny. Even if none of your goals in life are physical, I will bet that that without some ability to move your body they will become that much more difficult to achieve. Something like 2/3 of the UK population don’t get the recommended minimum amount of exercise each week, putting them at increased risk of a vast number of lifestyle related illnesses. If you can only move your left hand, you had jolly well better be using to it give ‘the finger’ to anyone who encourages you to accept less of yourself than you are capable of.
If you are lacking in motivation, perhaps the best thing you can do is tune in to the upcoming TV coverage of the Paralympic Games. If you had any doubts about the invincibility of the human spirit, or why your huge problem may not be that big after all, just a few hours of watching should cause a swift attitude adjustment. Find me an obstacle which you think prevents you from being a success, and I will show you someone who is fighting back to live a life to be proud of.
It’s good to get uncomfortable with ourselves occasionally, and to recognise where we are failing to fulfil our potential. Don’t allow yourself to become a victim of the cards which you have been dealt in life; there are several jokers in everyone’s pack. Much of life is a game of chance, but it is possible to sway the odds in your favour.
The mind is not always truthful when it comes to allowing us to make the most of our time on earth, but as far as I know we won’t get these moments again. Sit on your ass, eat junk, and embrace the victim mentality, and sooner or later you will pay a heavy price. No amount of money can buy back your life once it is gone.
Being that this is a fitness orientated blog, my comments have been health related, but the sentiments just as easily apply to all aspects of life, from your family, to your relationships, to your work, your hobbies and your finances. Throw away those excuses which you are using to hold you back. Tap into that inner voice of possibility which you first heard as a kid, before expectation, obligation and failed dreams allowed you to close your minds to your true life’s purpose. Become the person you are destined to be, and leave a legacy to be proud of.
My parting thought is a quote from one of my favourite films, The Shawshank Redemption, ‘Get busy living, or get busy dying’.
