Why Manual Labor Beats the Gym: A Country Strong Workout
I hate gyms.
I’ll take the open sky, fresh air, and manual labor over a crowded gym with stale air and artificial light any day. No offense to gym rats- I’ve spent plenty of time in gyms. Good times. But I think I get more benefit from a country strong workout of shoveling dirt into a wheelbarrow, dumping it, raking it and carrying debris.
I am sure that I worked every muscle group- core, legs, back, arms, chest in the process, and the movements were diverse and varied, on uneven ground, forcing me to balance and adjust. I love this kind of exercise.
This isn’t just about the physical though. This work was done on the site where my tiny house sat for 8 years until it went away 2 weeks ago. The labor not only strengthened my muscles, but it was cathartic for my mind and nervous system.
Processing Grief Through Physical Work
I chose to sell my tiny house and to have it hauled off. I felt ready, so I didn’t expect the grieving process that hit me post-move.
In the 2 weeks after the house went away I battled lower energy and mild depression and had more panic attacks than I had experienced in quite awhile. After a particularly intense panic attack, I decided to process the grief through manual labor.
Seeing daily the raw, disturbed site where my house used to be has been unpleasant. So as my therapy I took a sawzall and cut the stubs of the pressure treated and cedar posts that once supported my house and porch. I carried concrete footings and blocks, that were strewn about. And I moved wheelbarrows full of the red clay dirt that had been dug out to make way for the steel beams to go under and lift the house for moving.
This activity was necessary for me to feel more resolved with the process. A part of letting go. Balm for my nervous system.
My sweet dog Daisy joined me and her presence buoyed me. She’s always curious about digging projects and happy to help.
Healing the Land, Healing Myself
I envision an herb and wildflower garden there in the future. Something that will honor the site where I experienced a ton of peace, harmony, solitude, personal growth. I’ll have a bench there looking out on the creek, the view I used to have from my porch.
Building Resilience: Body, Mind, and Soul
I’m grateful that I did the work today to shore up my nervous system and build resilience, both in body and mind.
Strong body, strong mind, strong soul.
Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.