Is it worth it?

Paul is away at the moment, enjoying a wet and windy 4 days cycling in the Wicklow mountains. Don't tell him, but I've missed him! Not all of him, but his company, and having someone to share evenings with. The weather hasn't helped, and I've possibly been below par healthwise... Anyway, today I decided to grasp life by the lapels and get on with it. Despite the blustery wind and high chance of showers, I went out on my bike for 20 miles. I wore my rain jacket as it seemed chilly out, and then proceeded to sweat my way around the rain-free route. Whilst out, I made the commitment that today I would start jogging a daily mile. I'm not one of nature's natural runners, being knock kneed and pigeon toed, not to mention being a stone overweight... So I hung up my bike, had a glass of squash and a quick change of shoes, and set off shuffling down the road. I'd managed about 100 metres, my legs protesting loudly and still trying to resume a pedalling action,  when I got heckled by an elderly gentleman. "Is it worth it?" he shouted.

"Of course it is!" I replied confidently, and shuffled off, with lots to think about. I completed my mile and walked back up the hill (I'll work up to running back up it) feeling a sense of pride and achievement. Yes, it was worth it! There are obviously physical benefits to keeping fit and active, but that's not all. Doing something that is difficult, persisting when I feel like abandoning, committing to doing something and actually doing it gives me huge rewards. I'm still glowing with the sense of achievement, and the muscle ache from unfamiliar exercise just adds to that glow. That's why it's worth it. That's why I'll do it all again tomorrow,  plus some lovely Monday morning yoga. That's what I wish I could have said to the elderly man, however I was on a mission and couldn't stop.

I've just been weeding the front garden again. A bit of a weekly task as the grass opposite our house, and the lane and hedge next to it, are now fairly neglected by the council. Handily for them, letting the weeds grow is good for the creatures that live there. Rewilding. Not so good for me, however, as I yet again remove a new army of weeds from amongst my bedding plants. I could ask if it's worth it? After all, I'll only need to do it again next week. But, of course it is! Seeing the flowers brings me great pleasure, increases my general wellbeing, and makes my house look cared for. As does cleaning the windows (yes, I know they'll be dirty again next week), hoovering, cleaning the bathroom. All seemingly never-ending, repeating tasks. All so very worth it. It all makes me happy.

As I've been at a loose end, I read an entire book on Friday. It was a novel based on the real events in Vietnam after the war, and the fate of the people that I remember being referred to as the Vietnamese Boat People. I was a child at the time, but news footage of these poor people has always stayed with me. I didn't know much of their suffering it seems, as the people I saw on the news had survived. The horror of what humans can do to others, now as then, defies comprehension. Those that arrived here in the UK were the lucky ones, as they had survived the journey and the refugee camps to end up in an unfamiliar land far from what they knew. Having lost family members, homes and possessions, the life they knew. Sadly, many were met here with suspicion and hostility, accused of living in council houses that were meant for British people, for "taking" their jobs. After all that. It disturbed and saddened me. We don't have the opportunity to walk a mile in someone else's shoes, but we can spare a few moments to imagine what it might be like. I have lived a fortunate life, and I try not to take that good fortune for granted.