I was at the Y a few weeks ago riding the stationary bike. I ride a program called Fat Burner. It takes me up and down a small hill before sending me up a mountain and then back down again. I work hard on that big hill. I breathe heavily, sweat and my heartrate tops at 145. Thirty minutes of cardio. It’s a good workout for me.
Most folks using the equipment in that room use earbuds or read on an iPad or phone. Me, I just pedal. Besides the occasional greeting from the regulars, it’s pretty quiet except for the sound of the treadmills, elipticals and bikes. On this day there was one person on the treadmill and a young man using the universal weight machine. That’s it.
I finished my workout and sat for a few moments in the small lobby area waiting for Renee to finish a class. The young man I had noticed earlier, earbuds dangling, stopped right in front of me and said “Hey, keep up the good work. I saw you in there. Don’t stop working out” and then he gave me a fist bump. He continued, “I tell my dad all the time to keep moving. It’s good for you. Keep it up.” Another fist bump.
I told him he might be as old as my grandson, if I had one. He told me his name was Michael and he was seventeen. He said something else and gave me the third fist bump…but I was so surprised I don’t even remember what he said.
Pleasantly surprised. Amazingly surprised. First, that he noticed me at all. And second that he actually took the time to give me encouragement. Not in passing, not as in ‘hey good job, dude’. But real, honest to goodness encouragement. Did I mention he was seventeen?
Thank you, Michael, for noticing me and encouraging me. This is exactly how we make a difference in the world. One person at a time, in the ordinariness of the day, noticing and taking a moment to connect.
Grateful
Paula
