Ah, Spring! This is the time of year that all of us look forward to: the soft, warm air; flowers in bloom; budding trees; baby ducks, squirrels, birds and geese roaming around nearby ponds and parks. It is a time of renewal and a reaffirmation that life is good and that our purpose on this earth is to take advantage of these long, beautiful days and fill them with body—and spirit—renewing activities. It is time to do a little "spring cleaning" within ourselves, take stock of what we're doing to take care of our bodies, knock down some physical cob webs, dust out the valves of our hearts, and get rid of the rust that is keeping our joints from moving freely and fluidly. Time to "spring" into action!

During the cold and inclement winter months, we often give ourselves any and every excuse for not exercising. It's too dark outside and it's way too cold. Maybe a cold or the flu kept you from exercising for a week or two, or perhaps just the fact that it was so difficult to leave your warm and cozy bed! It's springtime in Tallahassee and there are no more excuses for not jumping into some type of activity to get your heart revved up and your pulse pounding! The time is now, so don't hesitate to make some plans to do a little physical spring cleaning and get back on track with your goals for good health and well-being.

Exercise comes in many forms. You don't always have to go to a gym or take a group fitness classes to exercise. You don't necessarily have to make a financial investment to be fit and healthy. Take a look around you and find creative ways to work out in your own backyard. How long has it been since you did a chin-up? If you have a swingset at your home, jump up and grab the top bar and try to pull yourself up once or twice. Go into your garage and pull out the volleyball net, put some air into the ball, invite a few neighbors over and have a Saturday afternoon volleyball game. Do you have a swimming pool? Dive in and start moving. You can jump and twist from side to side; hold onto the side of the pool and kick your legs for a great glute workout; or simply swim laps.

I'll bet the last time you jumped rope was when you were in grade school, right? Let me assure you that rope jumping is one of the best cardiovascular exercises around. Ten minutes of jumping rope is equivalent to thirty minutes of jogging. Have a jump rope contest with your kids and award the winner with a trip to Tropical Smoothie or the skating rink. Speaking of skating—most people have a few pairs of rollerblades lying around in their garage or basement, right? Pull them out and dust them off; maybe grease the wheels a bit and get rolling. What a fun way to spend time with your kids, while at the same time getting a great, heart-pumping workout.

The best way to get back on track is to simply start TODAY by vowing to get up and get moving. Let each person in your family take turns choosing the activity or game in which all of you will participate. I believe there is a competitive athlete inside each of us, so make some of your activities a fun competition between neighbors and family members with inexpensive rewards for the winner. You can create wonderful family moments and memories while at the same time instilling good habits in your kids. The best part is that everyone reaps the benefits of physical exertion. If we all played more, there would be a lot less heart disease, as well as other stress-related illnesses afflicting our bodies. Mental and physical good feelings occur when endorphins are released into our systems. Having fun, laughing and exercising as a family can only make your life richer and more fulfilling. So, go ahead and pull out some of the "toys" that you've stored away in the closet and find creative ways to involve your family and friends in active fun and fellowship.

No matter how you approach this time of year—this Springtime season of your life—with all of its promises of refreshment and renewal, do it with an enthusiastic commitment to better yourself and those you love and care about. Wipe away the dust and residue left over from the sedentary winter; brush and polish your body, mind and soul by tending to your health and physical wellness with memory—building family fun and frolic.