High temperature and high humidity have impacted the Until We Meet Again Tour. They have combined to keep me indoors more than planned. I have made it to the gym a bit more often although even there the air conditioning struggles to keep things cool.
I had fallen away from my exercise routine. After a stretch where I worked out daily, I probably logged five workouts in the last month. I put out an alert to my friends and support network. They responded. Some offered encouragement. Some shared expressions of concern. Some even used the “l” word. And some figuratively kicked my butt.
Joann Haejong Lee essentially said, “Get thee to the gymery and attend the Prince’s songs as thou moveth.”
Maybe her message was a tad more direct and a lot less faux Shakespeare. But I got her point.
And to the gym I went. And with a Prince playlist there seemed only one shirt and bandanna choice.
See you along the Trail (and hopefully in the gym).
As I completed my work out at the Gym at the Shire and prepared to mount the elevator to return to the Shire itself, I noticed some of the others using the gym. Treadmills pounded; weight machines clanked. Grunts and sighs and snippets of conversation filled the air.
I briefly watched a younger man, much younger than me, struggle to do exercises I can do easily. And for a moment, I felt accomplished.
Then a woman, not young but not as old as me, smoothly moved into a headstand. Her ease and grace reminded me of the struggle I sometimes have just to stand on my feet. And for a moment, I despaired and thoughts of giving up filled my head.
For a moment. Only a moment.
The moment quickly passed and I realized as I exercise I do not compete with those who are ahead or with those who are behind, those who can do more or those who can do less. It is a journey of self-care. It is a competition with myself, with that voice in my head that tells me I can’t. And every time I make it through, every time I do something more, something new, I win.
And with support of family, trainer, friends, I have many wins. And more will come.
See you along the Trail.
Along the Graybeard Trail 