As we start the New Year, many people are making resolutions and setting goals for the next 12 months. One of the most common resolutions is to be more active. At Prairie Doc, we want all of our viewers to be both healthy and happy. This week, On Call with the Prairie Doc will be showcasing different ways people can incorporate movement into their lives. There is truly something for everyone.
Personally, I’ve explored a variety of activities with varying levels of success and competence. Regardless of the activity, what has made many of these experiences memorable and enjoyable are the people I have met along the way. Some of my most cherished friendships have formed through shared activities, proving to be just as beneficial to my mental health as any physical benefits of the activity itself.
Let me share some of the more unusual ways that I’ve stayed active throughout my life. In fourth grade, I joined the wrestling team. I became the first girl in my school to do so. I was not particularly good, ending the season with a 1-11 record. However, I was proud of myself for trying. By sixth grade, two other girls joined the team with me.
In junior high I tried volleyball, and while I loved, but was not very skilled. The place I did excel in was taekwondo. I started when I was ten and earned my 3rd degree black belt while in college. When I was in medical school, I still found time for activities and needed to try things that were the complete opposite of my school work. I tried rock climbing, belly dancing, and fencing. All activities that were outside my comfort zone, but quickly became welcome breaks from studying.
In Brookings, we are blessed with a multitude of activities in the area to try. I have participated in an adult kickball league. I have also started curling with the Brookings Curling Club. This game involves not only skill and strategy but a little bit of luck. On Prairie Doc, viewers will get to see me doing my favorite exercise activity, aerial silks. My medical residency training was in Baraboo, Wisconsin, the home town of the Ringling Brothers. I always loved the circus and aerial silks allows me to feel like I have joined the circus, if only for a few moments.
Finding the right activity may take some trial and error, but once you find something you love it will be worth it. So, as you set your goals for the coming year, consider trying something completely different. You may just discover an activity that brings you joy and a new community of friends along the way. Until next time, Stay healthy and active out there!
Jill Kruse, D.O. is part of The Prairie Doc® team of physicians and currently practices as a hospitalist in Brookings, South Dakota. Follow The Prairie Doc® at www.prairiedoc.org and on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads featuring On Call with the Prairie Doc®, a medical Q&A show on SDPB, 2 podcasts, and a Radio program, providing health information based on science, built on trust, streaming live on Facebook most Thursdays at 7 p.m. central and wherever podcast can be found.
