Friday, August 27, 2010

Do What You Say You Are Going to Do

It sounded like a good idea at the time. The 6:00 am cycling instructors were going on vacation and needed subs for their classes for two weeks. I signed up for it and then the alarm went off at 4:45 am. It was then I first questioned my sanity (actually I have questioned it many times before - usually when it involves getting my body out of bed before the sun is warm). Surely I had been out of my mind when I agreed to get up before the crack of dawn to lead others in exercise. I jumped out of bed quickly before my body realized what was happening to it and jumped in the shower to wake up. Actually, it is a really amazing thing to get up when the moon and stars are out and the night air is still a bit cool as you head to the gym to exercise. I wonder where all of those other people I see on the road are going at this crazy hour of the morning. What amazes me even more is the fact some people are actually leaving the gym when I arrive at 5:30 a.m. - they are finished with their workout. What time did they start?

By the time we are into our warm-up in class I am starting to feel alive and considering conversion to morning person status. When I leave the gym the sun is rising and a new day has already begun and life is good.

So - I thought. I shouldn't keep this incredible experience all to myself. I want all of my yoga students to experience this pre-dawn awesomeness too. I mentioned it to my yoga class that next night. I told them I would be teaching cycling class in the morning and they should join me. "You will be done with your workout before your body knows it is awake!" - I promised with a devilish smile. Two college age girls came up to me all excited after class to say they would be there. Two other women said "they might" and I knew they meant well but I could guarantee I would not see them in the morning.

The next morning, as class began promptly at 6:00 a.m., I looked hopefully about the room but didn't see any of the ladies that said they would or they might be in class. Just as I was about to lose all hope - which is tragic for a hopelessly optimistic person - two energetic young girls walked into the room and set up on bikes near the front of class - my two "we will be there" girls. The "mights" never showed up.

If you say you will - you will. If you say you might - you probably won't.

I love people who do what they say they are going to do.