I Should Probably Start Exercising

Old people are to be admired. Also, people who exercise. But old people who exercise is like a next level of respect.

I'm only 22 and can barely find the energy or time to do any sort of physical movement. I'd rather stay at work or babysit for strangers than have to do manual labor. But it's not only that I don't WANT to exercise, it's also that I just CAN'T exercise. I tried running once, and the second I forgot I was on the treadmill, I fell off. True story. Those things require concentration.

But getting back to old people who exercise... I really don't get it. They are like superhuman. It doesn't make any sense to me how someone 50 years my senior can go for a 5 mile run in 90 degree weather. Or any weather. When I'm 70, I will most likely be playing bingo in a nursing home. The most movement I will be getting will be from those chair exercises and maybe a little bit of synchronized swimming.

Yesterday I met my latest hero. He must have been in his 70's and I had seen him earlier jogging through Prospect Park. We were at a crosswalk together and he started saying something to me about how I should photograph the sun peaking out from behind the clouds. I tried explaining that I was no photographer and my phone's camera just wasn't good enough, but he kept persisting. (Note: don't try arguing with an old man who clearly has more energy than you.) So I did it. And though you can barely see it, he kept mumbling about "How glorious! Just glorious!" it was.

And as I went off on my way, I turned around and found him like this:

This orange tank-top, sweatband-wearing, man is my inspiration to start exercising more. It probably won't ever happen, but he did leave me with a moment of inspiration and a huge smile on my face. How can you look at that adorable man and not smile?