I was sitting in a conference room the other day waiting for
a routine staff meeting to start. The usual surface banter was taking place
between some of my coworkers, which I tune out, but then something sparked my
interest. Conversation ensued:
Guy: “Man, it was really hot in the gym today.”
Lady: “It is still crowded down
there? (implying the new year rush)”
Guy: “Yea, it has kind of slimmed down, but there
are still some people down there that shouldn’t be.”
Another Lady sitting by the Guy,
shaking her head insistently yes.
Um, I’m sorry; did I just hear you correctly? People down
there that SHOULDN’T be?? It is pretty crazy how this one sentence invoked an
entire internal conversation in my head.
Many avid gym goers, let’s call us gymies, know exactly
what that dreaded time of year looks like; Full parking lots, crowded cardio decks,
and just the extreme busyness of the gym starting January 1. I don’t think I
can even begin to count the amount of times that I have heard complaints about
this particular month, but one thing is for sure, it happens every single year. And it is followed with, "Well we just have to deal with it, they won't be here after another month anyway."
So about the slimming down part, it probably won’t surprise anyone
that the top resolution made almost every year is to lose weight. Yes, people usually fall of their newly found
post-holiday motivation around February or so. But the probability of all of
those people keeping their resolutions the rest of the year is almost none. In
fact, it’s 8%, again, not surprising.
And, internal conversation continues. Why is it that some of
these people, even the most motivated gym newbies fall off after the first
month or two? I know there are all kinds of articles out there that talk about New
Year’s resolutions and how they don’t work, blah, blah.
As a gymie, what if your actions, either positive or negative, effect one person that has set a goal to become healthier this year? Have you enforced
the statistic that people can’t keep their resolutions? Did the look you just
gave them because they are on your favorite piece of cardio equipment,
discourage them from coming back? Did your not so friendly attitude about them using
your prized weight machine enforce the fact that this just may not be for them?
Did your attitude of you shouldn’t be in here rub off on them? Maybe so, maybe
not. Will we ever really be able to tell, probably not.
But, why, as a person who has found the inner motivation to
work out and stay disciplined enough to keep coming back, have that kind of
attitude towards someone who is trying to make a positive change in their life?
You know the benefits of going to the gym and the effects it has on your
health, so why aren’t you encouraging others as well?
I’ll admit it, I have had that attitude before. I have
dreaded the month of January in the gym. However, since becoming a group
instructor, my attitude towards January has completely changed. I look forward
to that month, because it challenges me to challenge others. I love seeing the
look of someone complete something they never thought they could do. It is
really awesome, actually. So instead of
letting that inner skeptic rear its head, try something different.
Be
encouraging, be friendly, be motivating, but above all else, be accepting. You
never know, in the smallest way, you could have a positive effect on someone’s
life. And that, gymies, is pretty dang cool.
Over the weekend I received two different pictures but with very similar themes. Two girls holding softballs, with huge grins on their faces. If you have ever played softball or been around someone that does, you know you/they usually get to keep home runs balls as a keep sake or proof of how awesome they are. I remember when I was younger I was always so excited to write all of the stats from the game on that ball. It is safe to say I still have all of those balls in a closet somewhere. But somehow, the feeling I get from a picture from one of my girls hitting a home run compared to how I felt in that moment is so very different. When I was in that moment I was so excited that I hit a home run, that I accomplished something great.
But the moment that I get a text or a picture, not just of home runs, but of them doing well, I am excited, don't get me wrong, but I can't help but have an overwhelming feeling of gratefulness. Grateful for the opportunity I have to influence young girls to get better at their game. Grateful that they (both the parents and the girls) trust in me and what I teach. Grateful that they get to see all of their hard work pay off. Grateful for the time I have with each one of them to get to know them better. Grateful for the opportunity to help develop young athletes and give back the time that was so graciously given to me when I was younger. Moments of reflection like these make me realize just how lucky I was to have had those people in my life and how much they made me into the coach I am today. I suppose that those people that taught me felt pretty similar to how I feel today. I guess I can some it up in a couple of words. Grateful and proud.