Ireland

Ireland

Monday, April 4, 2011

I'm just a little late

I thought I had it all figured out.
I thought for sure that the problem with our Country's over weight children was a direct result of the computer age.
I thought it started and ended with Microsft.
I thought for sure I was the first one to come up with this stunningly intelligent idea.

We all remember as kids, spending hours and hours outside, making up games if we had to.
Maybe some cartoons on Saturday morning, but after that we were gone.
These concerns we as parents have had since the advent of "Pong", are nothing new.
Not by a long shot.

I'm reading the book, "Undaunted Courage" the story of Lewis and Clark who head West looking for a waterway to the Pacific.
As I'm reading about Meriwether Lewis as a young man, I read a passage that I found interesting. Mr. Lewis says,
"..the taming of horses resulted in the degeneracy of the human body", and he urged young folk to walk for exercise.

Darn, I guess I wasn't the first one to recognize the problem. He made this statement in 1793.

4 comments:

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Now that's something!

I can attest, though, that riding horses is indeed exercise... especially for the abdominal muscles and legs.. I doubt it brought on obescity. Meaning.. I should be doing alot more of it.

I'm thinking 10 lbs may have been obese in the days of Lewis & Clark.

Sueann said...

I agree with you Mark!!! Get the kids outside!!! Play hide 'n seek, and kick the can and jump rope and ride your bikes to the corner store!!! Sigh!! What fun times they are missing!
Hugs
SueAnn

Formerly known as Frau said...

Interesting!My hubby loves that book! Nobody plays out side anymore! It was gorgeous here yesterday not a kid in sight!

Dan Kent said...

I read that book - excellent book! Whenever there is progress, like horses, something is lost and something is gained. Actually it seems like something is lost and weight is gained if you think about it.