There seem to be two ways to play the game of LIFE. We can be serious about the insignificant and treat all that is serious with insignificance. OR we can play grown up with the grown up stuff and have a ball with everything else.
This life rule applies to everything. Spin class for example-it may be taken extremely seriously or you can have fun while finding the premise hysterical.The net effect of the workout is the same-except the fun way gives you a lasting and youthful glow. Truth is spinning is an assault on the body and can be nasty, as my mom calls it “where you sit down”. You ride like the devil but get nowhere, you sweat like a pig and the room becomes unsavoury at the half way point-especially if you are downwind from the great unclean. There are cruel truth telling mirrors everywhere. The instructor is relentless with his P.O.W. tactics.To make the torture bearable – we must play.We have a great friend from University days in this class who was the good guy even before we knew what good guys were. He has become just better at being wonderful. His personality has been eclipsed by his pecs, though. Age is doing him so many favours it seems to be doing back flips in his corner. At the end of spin class, he removes his wet shirt-not with great aplomb or arrogance but because he loves his family and is returning to them. This is a splendid thing to witness at the crack of dawn. On our birthdays, when we spin in Tiaras and Tutus, we request that the boys represent the skins team. Hard to get an empty bike those days.
This odd but tough ride takes a regular day and turns it on its head. I get home singing loudly-endorphins racing through my body, begging my groggy eyed children to ‘just feel my sweaty back-you won’t believe how wet it is’ and they laugh and scream ‘gross’. By 10:00 I have had all the leftovers from the night before in a carb seeking frenzy and I have pushed 100 things forward-some right over the edge unfortunately-in a dance that says ‘just tell me I can’t’ . And I have already had some fun too.
Did I ever tell you it’s not just about the kids?