Inspiration

I had a great blog entry planned for today having to do with summer and our first give-away winner.  But like my blog title says, "a sweet blend of baking and life", life happened today and it wins out over some adorable photos of my dog taken last year at the lake.  The pictures are really cute and I'll post them later this week, I just thought sharing today's experience was more important.

This morning I attended my first "spin" class.  For those of you who have not tried spinning, it's an exercise class based on rides and climbs taken on a stationary bike.  Friends who had encouraged me to join the class said things like, "You'll hate it at first, but don't give up" and "It takes some getting used to, usually 3 or 4 classes, but don't give up".

My instructor was absolutely darling...of course she would be...she's in her 30's, wears her blond hair in a pixie cut and is in the kind of shape you are already imagining...amazing, enviable.  She welcomed me warmly,  "fit" my bike to my body (I have long arms and long legs) with a series of adjustments, told me how to work the tension dial, and got right down to business.  In roughly 2 minutes, the obligatory niceness was over.

Now before I go much further, I have to say that I thought I was in fairly good shape.  I could lose a few pounds, no argument there, but I play tennis 2 or 3 days a week, work in a job (until the cupcake biz catches fire...watch out DC Cupcakes) where I'm on my feet the entire time and hit my treadmill once or twice a week.  I'm not a marathon runner but not a marshmallow either.  I need to also say that I'm a pretty competitive person...no one-wheeled bike was going to get the best of me.  That being said, I am loathe to admit that none of my previous athletic endeavors prepared me for the next 55 minutes.

The first five minutes were fairly uneventful.  I was keeping pace and actually enjoying myself.  Not long thereafter, I had sweat dripping in my eyes and burning forearms.   That was at approximately the 20 minute mark.  I was ecstatic when Miss Pixie Haircut announced that we were half way done with our workout at 30 minutes.  I focused on the "don't give up" part of my friends' warnings.

I needed to focus in the worst way.  Part of my challenge was that I had parked my bike near a TV monitor that was tuned into "The Doctors".  We were listening to the driving sounds of workout music while the sissies on the treadmills plugged into the TV program.  Once, as I raised my eyes to check the clock and gauge my progress,  I saw the Doctors answering questions about constipation.  They had props for demonstration purposes...dear heaven.  I had to look away later when they were lancing something that required stitches.  Yuck!  My burning quads were torture enough!!

45 minutes in, my legs felt like jelly, my clothing was soaked and my quart bottle of water almost drained.  I was thinking that I had never worked so hard, perspired so much, drank so much water and prayed for time travel simultaneously.  In spite of myself, I finished the class and realized I learned something in addition to spinning.

Oddly, somewhere in the middle of the session (you see I really wasn't watching TV) I had a kind of epiphany that I need to mention because it is the real subject of today's entry.  During a water break, where you sit up, drink and keep pedaling,  I looked around and found that I was truly impressed with every single woman in the class.  They were every shape and size, every age and ethnic background and were all there, "not giving up".  Every one had a reason to be there.  Every one had a goal, a dream, a story.

And I don't think it was the oxygen deprivation that made my thoughts drift.  I began thinking of some women I know who are true inspirations to me:

My sister-in-law who just posted on FB that she has dropped 2 dress sizes!

My niece who is training to run a half-marathon in October, is working full-time AND in school!

My cousin who is a public school teacher!

My daughter who serves coffee in the morning and chases her dream of being a professional actor at night!

and

My sweet friends, true "Steel Magnolias", who go through each ordinary day and then each crisis that presents itself with the same amazing grace.

These are a few.  There are many more.

Part of a journey through life is about striving to be the best person you can be.  Be the healthiest, strongest, most fit.  Be the friendliest, happiest, most generous.  Be the kindest, smartest, most honest.  Be the sweetest, funniest, most dependable.  As your friend, I am going to encourage you to grab your personal goal, dream or story with both hands and "don't give up".  You may hate it at first, but don't give up.  It may take a while to get used to, but don't give up.

There's another class on Friday and I plan to be in it.  I hope the darling blond girl with the beautiful smile, who spins along with the class, is my instructor.  I will fit my own bike, warm up by spinning at my own pace, and I'll take a good look around.   Who knows what else I'll discover??

* * * * * * 

Last but not least, here's the fun part.

I wrote all your names on pink paper, folded them neatly and stirred them up.  With my precious dog, Kasey, watching the proceedings for authenticity, I turned my head away, reached into the bowl and picked our first winner!

Paulette, I'll be in touch!

Stay tuned for our next give-away announcement!  And have a eye-opening day tomorrow.