I am a creature of habit. I could do the same exact workout for years, never changing things up. Over the holidays, my wife and daughters attended Lean and Cut (or some other torturous) class at the Alexander Family YMCA led by Julie. I tried to duck out – claiming to my kids that the class was full when I went to book it. When I got to the Y, I stuck my head in and Julie was quick to squeeze me in – right up front where everyone could see me and where I could watch myself clearly in the full-length mirror. Ugh.
I would have been much more comfortable in the weight room with dumbbells (very small dumbbells) or on a treadmill. Julie’s workout nearly killed me. We must have done 450 squats. It was hard. It was uncomfortable and I was sore the next few days. I worked muscles I had not used in an exceptionally long time. But I know it made me stronger.
And it made me think.
What if, on a regular basis, we changed it up? What if we exercised our mental and emotional muscles as diligently as our branch’s Top Scanners push themselves physically?
We all have muscles that we don’t use – and I’m not talking about biceps. We get into the same habits, with the same people, in the same places and don’t expose ourselves to ideas that are new or different. Are we using the same energy being open to those with differing perspectives that we use for conquering a new group fitness class? Are we striving to use the psychological muscles necessary to understand and appreciate different perspectives?
I would argue that the YMCA, with our doors open FOR ALL, has the potential to bring folks together with varying religious, political and cultural beliefs like no other entity in the Triangle. It is perhaps the only place some folks are exposed to different perspectives on a regular basis and that requires a different kind of thinking.
I challenge us all to work out our ear and empathy muscles as much, if not more, than we work out the physical parts of our bodies. Perhaps we would see strength like never before.
