Finding Happiness in a Mosh Pit
Exercising every day wasn’t always a habit. More recently it’s become a habit out of necessity. On days where I don’t exercise, it is difficult for me to move and balance. So I come to the gym early in the morning when my energy is at its peak
One of the things that gets my energy at its peak is being in a world unlike my every day world. The gym is my haven. Or heaven. I feel like a kid again, and all the machines are in my playroom, and the soundtrack is heavy metal and hard rock.
Sometimes I wonder what it would be like again to walk with the minimum of a cane. A one sided balance necessity. I go to any concert event using handicapped accessibility offerings. One time at an outside venue, the PNC Bank arts center in New Jersey, I took my motorized scooter because there was a lot of walking to the actual concert. Anytime I can save my energy for what’s needed, I’m going to take my scooter, for sure.
I remember being in a standing room only rock concert and not worrying how long I would have to stand. So when I listen to my hard rock on the elliptical machine, which I have only been able to get back on for a year since my ankle surgery to correct my foot, I need focus, and a good beat to keep my energy flowing. I have YouTube music, and choose a channel. One of the bands that I connected with when I started coming back again was Disturbed. They have been around for over 20 years. How do I know? Because I bought tickets to a concert at the same PNC Bank arts center In 2019, right before the pandemic shut everything down. I even bought merchandise online, with the name of my favorite song of theirs that inspired me, Down with the Sickness. The meaning of the real song might not fit, but the title certainly did. I was down with my sickness and was going to get on top and beat it with exercise. It was my new mantra. When I couldn’t go to the concert because it was canceled, I was given the option of waiting until they had a new concert rescheduled for the following year, or get a refund. I had them hold it with the hope that I would get to see my new favorite band.
Unfortunately the following year that concert never happened and I got my ticket refund. Bummer.
But I can still imagine that I am at one of their concerts by watching music videos on my iPhone when I am fixing position on the elliptical. I listen to my music throughout the gym on every machine and in transit, but I can actually watch and envision myself at a concert. I chose the image today of another favorite song of mine by Disturbed, No More. The song is about war and how they are not going to take it anymore and stop fighting for someone else’s war. It’s a great song with a great message, but I always put my own need into this song and just use it for how I am not going to take my MS robbing my mobility anymore. I am going to stand up and take action. It is like a fighting song to me. So I slipped myself into the song, and I slipped myself into a mosh pit. I don’t think that there would be a mosh pit at the PNC Bank arts Center, but I am sure if you have popped up at some of their awesome high energy concerts.
Are use my iPhone and YouTube music to see videos that I can envision myself in. It’s a moment for me to escape to another world, kind of like I escape to another world at the gym every day. It just takes it to another level.
It’s empowering to listen to audible and be able to read a book without having to use my eyes, and it’s also empowering to be at a concert without having to physically get there. I just use my mind. It’s kind of like I’m exercising my body, but controlling my mind, too.