While leaving my local health food store this week, which is located in the heart of Amish Country, I saw a 70+ year old amish woman running across the road. I thought to myself, "WOW", how many women that age do you see running down the road? Well, if you live in Amish country, you regularly see Amish of all ages running and walking briskly everywhere -- but an average american is rare these days. My next thought was, have I ever saw an Amish in a powerchair? I'd have to say "No". I don't even think I've even seen one in a wheelchair. Now, I'm not saying they don't ever use them, but it is an anomaly.
It is, however, an every day occurrence that I see an average american in a powerchair or wheelchair, and I can't tell you how many times I see an average american barely able to cross an intersection, let alone run! This caused me to ponder why is it that the Amish can run and walk everywhere at any age, but the average american fights to park in handicapped parking or as close to the door as possible, and can't wait till the day they have their own powerchair -- before they even turn 60.
Now, maybe I'm being a little over dramatic, but I will emphasize, "little". I have talked to numerous people who seem to think it would be grand to have their own powerchair. WHAT!?? How lazy have americans become?
What I have observed is this.
Amish eat home cooked meals prepared with food that they have grown in their gardens or raised themselves. You don't see them running through the drive thru with their horse and buggies ordering a Big Mac and Extra Large Fry. They are always moving or doing something physical in nature, which keeps them flexible and gives them cardio endurance. You also don't find them sitting in front of the tv playing video games. They are getting up early in the morning, working all day, and then socializing with family at night, going to bed at a decent time. Sundays are their day of rest and socializing with others and worshiping God. They have balance!
Now, I don't know about you, but I want to live a full life and move until the day I die if I can help it. Running around the roads like a mad woman in a "tricked out powerchair" is not my idea of life.
So, my message is let's learn something from the Amish. Maybe what you think are backwards ways, are actually forward thinking. Move and live so you can experience life the way we were meant to. Stop eating processed foods and replace them with organic whole foods. Balance your life between God, family, work, and play. You just might find that the simplest things in life are actually the best!
