Theme of the week: the free trial

leaves

This week’s unoffical theme has been the free trial. In order to fill holes in my exercise life, I tried out two different classes at two different gyms/studios. It was all about trying new things. I lifted kettleballs. I took an aerobics class. And my specific conclusion is that aerobics classes are not for me. Swinging kettleballs just might be. My more general conclusion is that trying new things is really not that hard. You just show up. You accept that you’re the newbie. You might be wearing the wrong shirt (a touch too flashy for this morning’s t-shirt-style aerobics class). You don’t know where to stand. And apparently you can’t get your arms to coordinate with your legs (aerobics class again; really really not for me). You look awkward. At least a little bit.

And that’s okay. Just make the appointment, set the alarm, and show up. If it’s a fit, you’ll know it, and if not, it was a unique experience you’ll never have to repeat.

What I learned in this morning’s aerobics class is that looking fit and toned is not a powerful enough goal for me; I kind of looked fit and toned even before I was. The luck of genes. Nope, what motivates me is the desire to stay sane, to take the edge off, to channel my nervous energy and competitive nature toward semi-useful ends like marathons and triathlons. It is also a way to inhabit my body and to get out of my head.

Which I need. Pretty much daily.

A photographer came this morning to take a shot to accompany yesterday’s interview (it will run a week from Saturday in the KW Record). He seemed slightly disappointed by my ordinary setup: desk, computer screen, chair. He said he’d imagined me scribbling into a notebook reclined in a comfortable chair. He did pose me with pen in hand, which happens next to never since I can’t read my own printing. It got me thinking about how the writer gets imagined — when you think writer, what do you see? Tortured soul? Drink in hand?

Running may be my version of drinking. Here’s hoping kettleballs will suffice too.

Big sky over empty lot
Better than bread

5 Comments

  1. Ellen

    I have that little person in my head that forces me to think of my health and well-being. Granted life happens and I can’t hit the treadmill (my way of doing the walk come rain, wind, cold or heat). I would rather be on a trail in the great outdoors with my hubby or kids.

    It too gets me out of slumps and corners that stall me on the road of life. Kettle-balls are a true challenge for me as I have an iffy neck. I do see the fun of them watching others use them so effortlessly. I would probably throw one and out a glass window it would fly!

    That must of annoyed you that the photographer wanted to pose you in a way you don’t use for writing….well if you were in California I would have recommended my daughter who is a photographer…..

    Reply
  2. Carrie Snyder

    You know, I didn’t find it annoying–I found it interesting. It made me think about how we are imagined by others. Though I do hope no one can tell from the photo that I’m not really writing anything in that notebook … 🙂

    Reply
  3. Unready, Unwilling, Unable

    Hmmm…very interesting about the portait. I’m a bit surprised by the photographer’s ideas, but not at all surprised by your broad minded reaction to them.

    Reply
  4. Carrie Snyder

    How would you pose the portrait, K, since you’ve done a series on people in their places of work?

    Reply
  5. Unready, Unwilling, Unable

    …no idea until I’d been there a while and we’d had a good chat and a good look all around the place. Ideally, somewhere with plenty of natural light – it’s best.

    Reply

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