BONUS WEDNESDAY POST!
I wrote this before the Tornado That Is Coronavirus swept through our lives:
“Once a week, I try to tame the fop of hair I usually keep in front of my left eyeball in order to attend a kickboxing class. And my question most weeks is… why do I do this to myself? It’s a pain in the ass. I rush home from work, walk the dog, change, make dinner, eat, wash dishes and hurry to class for… what? It’s not even fun! I end up getting Drill Sergeant style yelled at, covered in sweat, unable to lift my arms or my feet, and I’m not even any good at it! I’m clumsy, sometimes I just tip over, sometimes I throw a right while everyone else is throwing a left. Sometimes I miss the punching bag altogether. And at least three times every class I hear “PIVOT!” and think of Ross Geller on Friends. “What did you mean when you said pivot?”
So why do this? The exercise? Surely there are easier ways. The socializing? I’m about as introverted as they come. Getting to punch and kick stuff? Well yeah, let’s be honest, that’s probably it.
But like I’ve said before, I’m trying to save my own life. Let’s face it, it’s so much easier to do nothing! I have to pay for classes a month ahead, otherwise each week I will find a dire excuse as to why I can’t go. It’s easier not to rush around after work, it’s easier to watch TV after dinner rather than go to class, it’s easier not to have to go out, to work hard, to do things. But is it worth it not to try? Are you going to remember all those nights you spent watching TV on the couch? Or are you going to remember to PIVOT and perform a roundhouse kick that would make Chuck Norris (and Shihan Renee Datto) proud?
It is much easier to do nothing, but it’s so much better to do something. Follow your passing interests, step outside your comfort zone. Be willing to be bad at something, and keep doing it anyway. When I do it, it feels great. Maybe one day I’ll even learn to forgive myself for all the things I suck at. Or MAYBE, just maybe, I’ll get a little better.”
Last night I faced what was likely my last class for a long time and during the class, I kept thinking “thank god I won’t have to do this next week!” But now that it’s over, I’m not really asking why I do this to myself anymore. I’m asking what I will do without it. And I’m hoping that I can find my way back to if/when the world gets back to normal.
Action item for you:
Be willing to be bad at something and go do it anyway. I’ve been seeing a post on Facebook that says: “Sing off key, draw poorly, write badly. Life is meant to be enjoyed, not monetized. You’re not a product.” In this time of turmoil, do something you want to do (with appropriate social distancing), even if you suck at it.
If you want to do what I did:
Yosai School of Karate has kickboxing classes every Tuesday and Thursday from 7pm-8pm at FitnessRX on Clinton Street. Renee Datto is an incredible instructor and plans to continue classes online if forced to stop in-person instruction. These are the kickboxing gloves I purchased back in June 2019 when I started taking classes. They were super reasonably priced and have held up pretty well to my once a week beating and washing of them. My only complaint is that the velcro is starting to become a little less sticky.