I belong to a health club, and when I'm in town I go at least 5 times a week. I'm pretty much set to an early routine, and only break it up when I plan on staying for a long period of time; that's rare.

My favorite thing is walking around the track. That's pretty much how I get my cardio work in. My joints don't hurt as much as if I use a treadmill or any of the other machines they have to help you walk, and I figure I already know how to walk so I don't need that kind of encouragement.

I put on my headphones and I go to it. I always walk at least 30 minutes. One might think that it would get boring, but it doesn't. It's not quite a circle, obviously, but it can be extrapolated into a circle for this discussion.

Why do I enjoy it? Multiple reasons, I must say. One, every time I go around the circle something changes. Either a person has moved to a new machine or has just started or finished a machine. Someone new is coming in the front door or leaving; same goes for the locker room. Things are always changing on the multiple TV screens they have, and I get my choice of multiple things to look at.

And the best thing about the "circle" is that I can get on or off at any time I choose to. If I want to step off to get a drink or water or grab a towel, it's easy enough to do, and then I can get back on. It's different than walking at the lake, where if I walk 30 minutes I know I have to walk back another 30 minutes at a minimum. When one forces themselves into something they might not be prepared for, the enjoyment goes out of it. And every once in awhile, especially on hot days, I've found myself not being able to walk back and having to wait for the trolley to come instead.

So, what becomes the metaphors for circles, or ellipticals, or ovals, or whatever? Circles offer a starting and ending point. They might end up being the same but don't necessarily have to be. But in the end, the basic foundation of the circle is the same.

Circles offer a level of security. Circles don't allow you to deviate too far away from where you want to be. Circles are comfortable. You can make your circle bigger or smaller as you need, but when all is said and done you're still somewhat self contained; you're safe.

Circles can expand or contract. We can expand our circles of people to network with while decreasing our circle of people who get on our nerves. We can shrink our circle to get to the root of a problem or we can expand our circles to help us look at the big picture. People who think outside the box can remain within their particular circle, or niche, and thus produce innovation without forgetting what the core is.

And if you stand the circle up on its edge, it can take you where you want to go and bring you back, smooth, no hitches, no discomfort. Yeah, that oval and elliptical might not be as smooth on its edge, yet it also still allows you to stretch a bit, then come back to your original point whenever you feel the need to start over.

Therefore, going around in circles isn't always bad; it just depends on what you want to do with your circle.