By Nate Abraham Jr.
COMMENTARY
Several years ago, I became focused on improving my health. My wife and I purchased bikes and began an exercise program. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, we biked five miles around our neighborhood. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we walked or jogged for three miles. On the weekends, we did the five-mile trail in Riverfront Park, the six-mile trail in the Cayce-West Columbia Riverwalk, or the seven-mile trail in the Saluda Riverwalk. I was feeling good.
Then my father died. I stopped riding the bike, and I walked or jogged only sporadically. I still knew the importance of exercising, but life events kept getting in the way.
After spending the last ten months battling a few major health issues and dealing with the stress of keeping this newspaper going, getting healthy was suddenly important again. So last Thursday, I got up and did two miles around my neighborhood – uphill.
Two hours later, I went to the State House to cover a ceremony honoring Rev. Charles B. Jackson Sr. for the 20th anniversary of the Brookland Banquet and Conference Center. Since the building was packed, I had to walk up the steep stairs to the lobby, then another set of steep stairs to the Senate observation balcony. My legs were still sore from the morning’s exercise, so I held on to the handrail as I ascended the stairs.
When the ceremony was over, I descended the stairs to the lobby behind Rev. Jackson. After a photo session, he walked down the second set of stairs to the exit. Rev. Jackson is in his early 70s. On both sets of stairs, he didn’t use the handrails. I am well over a decade younger than he is, and I held on to rest my sore legs.
It was embarrassing. Rev. Jackson was bouncing down the stairs like a spring chicken, and I was going down the stairs like I was in my 70s.
On Friday, I traveled to Greenville to cover the Palmetto Medical, Dental and Pharmaceutical Association’s annual banquet. This organization represents South Carolina’s top African-American medical personnel. The banquet hall was filled with doctors, dentists and pharmacists – some who have served their communities for over 50 years. I noticed that in the room, only one of these medical professionals would be considered overweight.
Message received. Pastors and doctors literally have people’s lives in their hands. My stress is merely trying to keep the doors to this newspaper open. If people who are older than I am who work in professions that subject them to even more stress can make a commitment to staying in shape, so can I.
Everyone should make the same commitment.
