You should. You know the one I am talking about? She’s (He’s) not the one you hang out with a lot. But she is there. When you need her. No.Questions.Asked. She is that one, that even though you live in the same town, if you do not have contact, she is there. I found that out this Spring. I needed her.
I met her several years ago. At the gym. She is strong. Really strong. In so many ways. She knew what she was doing. I did not. I had been going to the gym after work. My practical side knew that I should be dragging my ass out of bed before anyone was up, and getting my work-out on so that I could be home after work. I still had a kiddo home that needed me and dinner. Getting to the gym by 5am, just seemed so crazy. I literally could not get up. I actually tried for a couple of months. I just couldn’t do it. My boss did. A couple of days a week she took a 5am class, at a different gym. One day I asked her for some advice. Like, how do I get up?? She explained that yes, it is hard and sucks but make your self do it for 2 weeks. Suffer and just do it. Make yourself. She swore, I would never go back. I haven’t. Monday and Tuesday sucked. By Thursday, I knew 5am was for me.
When I first started coming in at 5am, my Trainer was on vacation. I would not know anyone. I was a bit nervous. Well, kind of scared. That’s when I met her. I’m pretty sure she gave me the side eye a few times. You, know, our gym was tiny at the time and I was taking up space. Actually probably in her way. Back in the day at 5am, it was literally this guy -Matt- a bad ass, straight up boxer, my Friend and Me. Me = the one who didn’t know what the heck I just got myself into. I had a hard time looking at Matt because I was sure he was thinking – WTH? Why? My Friend, I’m pretty sure was thinking the same thing. At the time I really had no idea what a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 was. I couldn’t do leg lifts. I mean, I could – one leg at a time. However, after the first week – I decided I was EXACTLY where I was supposed to be. I tried and just continued to go. I learned so much being a newbie.
My 5am stint lasted a few years. Then my Son graduated HS, was working all the time and would be getting ready to go to college. As things were spinning in my head – I decided I didn’t need to get up early to get to the gym anymore. THAT was a huge mistake. I decided I could now just go after work. Yeah – that really never happened. I went to classes I liked – when I could. Which, honestly, wasn’t much. I lost my normal. I did it to myself.
Several months into this a lot had happened. (at some point, maybe I will do a blog post on that…) I was not were I wanted to be. I gained some weight. The wick was burning at both ends; I was trying to get it together. It was then – that I reached out to THAT Friend. The one I met at the gym. The one who had meant so much to me, for so long. The one I did not talk to for months. She continued to go to the gym at 5am. Not me! I texted her. Asked her to go walk a few miles on the Loop. I needed her. I just hoped that she would say yes. She did. We met up I was a hot mess. I literally told her where I had been, what I had been doing. I had never told anybody any of this. She listened. Whole heartedly. In the time we hadn’t seen each other, a lot had gone on in her life too. She made me feel as if what I was telling her, was so much more important. When we were done, I got in my car to leave and bawled my eyes out. I was so thankful for her. THAT Friend.
Months later – yes, months – I decide to go back to the gym early. I was going to start going at 4:30am. I contacted my Friend and asked if I would see her at 5. She asked, Why? She was probably wondering if I was actually going to come back. I told her I would be there at 4:30, but I would see her when she got there. Well, guess what? THAT Friend has showed up at the gym at 4:30am ever since.
Her kindness is what everybody needs. I love the way she listens. I love that she always reminds me that the Lord knows the way. Always. & don’t second guess that.
Lastly, she started a new thing a couple weeks ago – on our way out of the gym, we look in the mirror, SMILE then fist pump. That was actually hard. A week later she added this – say one word that describes you. Daily. That is hard. It is getting better. Easier. I am now looking for those words. Another Friend of ours, at the gym, lifts by “our” mirror. She says we always need to add #beautifulbadassbitches For whatever reason, that feels right, too.
When we arrive and leave at the gym, it is dark – here is a picture of us practicing looking in the mirror…
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