The Miracle Pill

Imagine if there were a miracle pill that would make you feel and look better in a completely healthy way--would you take it? Or a completely safe over-the-counter pill that would reduce stress, promote better sleep, boost your mood, and improve your self-esteem? Sound too good to be true? I am sure lots of us would go for a safe, inexpensive pill that would help us lose weight. How about one that could prevent diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, breast cancer, colon cancer, high blood pressure, plaque in the arteries, and premature death?

Would you take a safe pill that would improve your performance at work and in recreation? One that improved your endurance and stamina? One that could increase your mental focus? Build your confidence and effectiveness? How about one that improved your digestion, or your sex life? Build your lean muscle mass, provide more muscle definition, strengthen your bones, and make you more agile? Sometimes we do want pills that can lessen joint pain or back pain, or reduce depression or anxiety, or improve our metabolism. I see them sold all the time.

Would you take a pill that could reduce menstrual cramps, burn extra calories, and improve your complexion all at the same time? How about a pill that increased your appetite for healthy foods? What if there were a pill that could do all of these things, cost practically nothing, and was available to almost everyone without a prescription?

But wait! There's more! What if it also improved your posture, lowered your resting heart rate, enhanced oxygen and calcium transport throughout the body--and helped alleviate varicose veins? What if there were a drug you could take that actually increased your self-discipline, your sense of achievement, your ability to control your life in ways that could just keep growing? Imagine the online sales of such a drug, or the stampedes at the drug store.

If there were any one thing that could do all of these things, everyone would take it, wouldn't they? Such a drug would sell even if it cost a lot of money.

Now, don't get mad, but there is such a thing that can give every single one of these benefits. No, it's not as easy as popping a pill, but it's not out of the reach of most people, either. The cost is on a sliding fee scale--it can cost a lot if you want, but it can also be practically free.

The thing, of course, is exercise. Just regular exercise. It can start with a daily walk to the corner and back. With walking up the stairs instead of taking the elevator. The only trick is to be consistent--do what you can really do, but do it several times a week. Then slowly add to it. Walk just one minute longer each day or week, or jog just one tenth of a mile per minute faster for five minutes than you did yesterday.

With its potential benefits, and the potential costs of not doing it, why not? If you would take a pill that could do even some of these things, why not take a walk or a run?