When I was in high school and college, one of the most popular bands was REO Speedwagon, a pop-rock group that found play on both top 40 song stations as well as KSHE’s album rock format. They performed to sold-out arena crowds. My friends loved them. Their music was everywhere, so much so that I absolutely couldn’t stand them. When their songs came on the radio, I changed the station. Recently, however, after forty years, I found myself becoming something of a fan, reciting lyrics in my head from the REO hit “Keep Pushin’” as in “Keep pushin’ on.” It’s sort of my anthem now.

I learned this when I recommitted myself to a life of increasing physical activity and exercise, which is crucial to staying healthy, especially as you get older. I began with home workouts using weights and aerobic exercise on an elliptical. Things were going well, so much so that I noticed a bump up in energy. This is especially important for someone who has made a living out of sedentary work on a laptop.

Then in May, I decided to up my game and join a really nice, recently remodeled and upgraded gym near my house. I stepped in, and it was like gym Nirvana. The gigantic interior is full of countless workout machines and free-weight spaces. There are also a variety of “recovery” areas where you could experience everything from red light sauna to a new “dry cold plunge,” which purportedly has a similar effect to a “wet cold plunge,” where you dunk yourself in a bucket of ice, a “hack” notably used by celebrities to invigorate their nerve and metabolic systems. Comfortable massage chairs are also available, as well as a robotic massager, complete with extended white mechanical arms that are programmed to the contour of one’s body, or so they say. I don’t plan to find out.

One day I decided to get on a treadmill, something I haven’t done in years. I do occasional extended walks, but that’s as much to enjoy time outdoors as it is to stay fit. I got on, pushed the “lose weight” goal button, and set the speed on a reasonable 2 on a scale of 1-10. I began a steady walk, like you would on a stroll through a neighborhood. Suddenly, within 15 seconds, the machine ramped up to a sprint. I tried hitting the “slow down” button to no avail. Before I could hit the “stop” button, I was thrown down hard onto the machine next to it.

A 30-something woman on the treadmill next to me stopped, looked down and asked, “Are you OK?” I replied, “No…” “Would you like a hand up?”  “Why yes.” I stood up feeling half broken and hobbled over to the front counter to let staff know what happened. After a visit to an orthopedic doc, a pain shot and some physical therapy, I’ve been doing better. I haven’t given up going to the gym, although I’m choosing to use their elliptical over the treadmill.

Everyone faces challenges, and they can either control you or you can consciously choose to navigate through, if not overcome them. As the old saying goes, “You can always choose to control how you respond to adversity.”

Knowing you’re not alone can help when combating adversity. Others you know might even inspire you. Just this past month, my college roommate had knee replacement surgery, something he has chalked up to decades of standing for long periods in his second profession as an Irish folk musician. He has another knee surgery ahead of him, but nevertheless he’s looking forward to his music career jumpstarting again after a four-year hiatus. During this same period, another lifelong friend, a former Marine, underwent a difficult decision to move ahead with deep brain stimulation surgery after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease several years ago. A progressively debilitating disease, he finally made the decision. His mobility has since improved to the point where he doesn’t need a walker, and he’s taking trips to the countryside. Sadly, another friend’s ailing mom, whom he had cared for in his home for seven years, passed away a few weeks ago. His life was dramatically altered during that time, but after grieving the loss, he is beginning to reinvent his life.

So ask yourself, if not you, who do you know is up against extraordinary challenges and has mustered the resiliency to overcome them?  We can never fully put ourselves in the shoes of others, but they’re everywhere: next door, down the street, at your work, at the grocery or at church.

So I’ve come to embrace the resiliency of REO’s lyrics that implore the listener to: “Keep pushin’ on, even if you think your strength is gone.” I might even catch their next concert if they ever go on tour again.