I am so happy I could die right now

Today was a colossal day. It was just that kind of day. I woke up feeling great and prepared to have a fabulous day. Usually, I wake up early, either by myself or due to the impertinent call to prayer from the loudspeakers of the local mosque. Of course, as you do, the first thing is to offer prayers to God for sparing my life, for at least another day. It’s always luck to wake up each morning. For who knows! That’s why, personally, I hate planning for tomorrow and always push to accomplish my goals each day. So in case death come calling, the jobs’ done.

Anyway, that’s not the point of this article.

I woke up feeling like a Billion dollars (No, not 20B). It clicked in my head that I had indulged the day before and so needed to go for a run and lose some fat. I thought I should lose some fat around my stomach as my belly button is slowly disappearing. So, I grabbed my running clothes and trainers, my mobile phone and the house keys and stepped out. On the phone, tuned to 96.9FM was the fabulous DJ TTB spinning some great Naija tunes. What a delight!

The Nigerian music industry is blessed with some great talents right now. I almost started dancing on the steps just loving Davido, Savage and the like. But, I remembered the plan and started the stretching exercises: arms and legs. After a few minutes, I set off on the 30 minutes daily exercise routine, running around the block. At 6 in the morning only a few other hardy fellows are about, running or simply walking. The weather was crisp, air fresh and the music delicious. The mix interchanged smoothly, banging from ‘I am looking for my Johnny’ to ‘Personally, I rock your body’.

Back on the run, I am breathing easy and frequently changing steps to the music, just loving it. I am sweating lightly as I overtake another runner. In the estate, a chap takes a group fitness exercise program in the mornings and he is busy setting up the music. A few people have driven down to take part. Driving to the exercise class? What’s that about?

A few people have started washing their cars and the water is making a mess on the street. I wondered why they cannot direct the water into the flower beds: kill one bird with 2 stones, so to say! Have to be careful on wet roads so as not to slip and break a leg. This is one reason to jog in daylight and not at night. The second reason, to see where you step is the numerous open manholes on the streets of Abuja. If you fall into one of them, you are sure to break your leg in more than a few places. Then, you will need Cedarcrest Hospital.

Where are my patients with back pain, hypertension, diabetes and stress? Where are the fat people, I wondered? They should be out here jogging and making some effort to lose weight. All I see on my runs usually are slim people with the exception of one lady. She has a lot of front and back packed into a tight T-shirt and body hugging jogging bottoms. She should not have been out this early, I thought! Surely, someone should have kept her under arrest. Anyway, I quickly reprimand myself, remembering my dear wife and her admonishing demeanour.

Anyway, early morning sex is also touted as a good form of exercise and another way to brighten up your day. It releases feel good hormones and puts a smile on your face. It can also help with blood pressure control, but, do not forget to take your prescribed drugs. Exercise leads to better control of blood pressure, blood sugar, weight and therefore reduces the risks of stroke and heart attacks. Regular walks, runs or jogging is guaranteed to keep you awake, refreshed and alive for longer. It is also fun and can be painless if you wake up with a great DJ on the radio station.

So, let me get to the point of this article.

You need to get off your backside and do something. You can walk, jog, run or crawl to keep fit. However, I would recommend jogging to some great beats at your own pace. I would also recommend dancing at home or out. Dance with your wife and kids or with friends as we do at Lifebridge Diagnostic Centre, in Abuja. Do it regularly, do it with a smile and be happy. It will increase your life span.

I so enjoyed my early morning run, I could die right now and die a happy man. So, I enjoin you today to do something different and do different things with your life!