Thankful Talk

 

About a month ago, Ryan started teaching a boot camp class at a gym. I was so excited for him to get the opportunity, because he has missed being in the gym regularly. If you’ve been reading here through the years, you know that he loves fitness, and when we lived in Kokomo, he became a coach at the gym where he worked out each week. Then the pandemic came…and then we didn’t have time for the gym during the WillowBridge years…and he has just missed it so much.

            He asked if I would want to be part of the class too, partly to help me work toward my own goals and partly to help him by doing modified moves for people who might need ideas for those. I don’t think I ever imagined being a gym class helper would ever be on my volunteer resume, but here we are!

            So for the last five weeks, I’ve gone to the gym with him every week to help with the class. (After the first of the year, when I can adjust my schedule, I plan to go for other workouts, too!)

            This month he’s helping fill in for another coach, too, so this week we had two nights in the gym.

            I was pretty sore as I made my way through the circuit, but as I pushed myself to step up on the tall black box in front of me, I realized what an absolute gift it is to be able to step on a tall black box. I’m not sad that I can’t jump it. I’m just thankful for the ability to take a giant step.

            I remember the piercing pain in my ankle years ago when I broke my leg right at the ankle. I remember how stiff my knee joints were earlier this year before I cut back on sugar. And while I’m sore from a double workout, I’m not in pain. I can step up. And I’m thankful.

            I kept paying attention throughout the circuit. I could throw the ball upward on the wall. I could carry a heavy kettlebell. I could do (modified) pushups. I could press a dumbbell above my head. I could hold a plank.

            Can I win awards? No. Can I do as much as I could a few years ago when I worked out 6 days a week? Not at the moment. But I can move. I can take literal and figurative steps toward rebuilding muscle I’ve lost over the last few years.

            I’m thankful for that.

            I really love the people who come to Ryan’s classes. We’re still getting to know each other, but they are kind and encouraging, and we’re starting to form gym-friendships. My only demand of myself is to not compare my abilities to theirs. We are not at the same place on the journey. I do what I can do. They do what they can do. And I’m thankful for my abilities, even if they don’t match what I see next to me.

            It’s a simple thing to be thankful for, but it’s been meaningful to me this week!