Rhythmically Challenged

from Ben's mom

I decided I needed to kick my workouts up a notch and go to a class. Big mistake! As one gets older, they learn to avoid things that make them feel inadequate. They learn their strengths and weaknesses. They decide it is ok that certain things don't come naturally and they avoid them.

But sometime you get so old and it has been so long that you forget just how bad something is. That was me as I arrived at "Step" class last night at 5:39. I made it until 5:48 before I quietly exited while the teacher was changing the music. Two people had already tried to come and "help me" because they could see I was new. Since they were both in front of me, I realized that those mirrors work really well. I preferred the classes I used to take that were low-impact, a little slower and I could hang out in the back with the teacher being the only one who knew how rhythmically challenged I am.

My left knee was killing me and I honestly thought about sticking with that excuse. But as I was comfortably back on the treadmill, I decided I am too old to lie to myself. Had I felt no pain, I still would have left. I can only take so much humiliation.

It reminded me of the time Dana wanted all her friends to "just go swing-dancing" for her birthday. She gave us some speech about how she didn't want gifts, she just wanted us to know the joy of swing. The appeal worked with me; it sent Mike to purchase a ticket to fly across country to visit friends that weekend. I really tried to learn; there was a lesson first and everyone in the room seemed intent on teaching me. Particularly some scary older men who kept "helping" me with the steps a little too close. Meanwhile, every woman in the room was trying to dance with K who also was struggling with the steps. The two of us found freedom together and just started doing our own little dance steps to the music--people stared but that's ok. They probably thought we were drunk, which was preferable to reality for me.

We had enough fun that I was thinking that really wasn't so bad when K piped up with, "Dancing is amazing. I've never had that many beautiful women with their bodies pressed up against me before." Thus ended my dancing days forever. Thanks for that K. I finally understood why so many people in my life cautioned me against dancing.

But I digress.... As I near middle-age, I am grateful that I have found joy in just being able to stay upright on the treadmill. I am often tempted to put the red ER cord on but I realize that is decidedly uncool. I mean really, what moron falls off a treadmill? Okay, maybe I should wear it.