Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

If you follow me on social media, you probably know that I absolutely love Cyclebar.  Cycling is my yoga.  I may come to class with a question in my head, a problem that needs a solution,  a plan that needs fleshed out and  I often leave the class with my answer.  I love to push myself to go harder and faster every time I get on the bike. 

But, last Sunday,  I arrived to class a little later than normal, I left myself less time to get my bike set up and get my legs warmed up.  Then, as you might have guessed, I was a little annoyed with myself and then my mind went a bit off course.  

You see, there is this girl who always comes to this Sunday class that I attend.  Every time and I mean every time she comes 5 minutes late.  She won’t use a locker, she has her bag and her shoes with her in the cycle theater.  She takes her phone out of her bag and places it in a water bottle holder, she then has to adjust her bike which is annoying at best to the person who is always on the bike next to her.

I was watching her, distracted from the task at hand which was to get to 111 rpm to the old school hit "867-5309".  Instead, I found myself judging…..why does she have her phone, it always lights up in class which is so distracting. 

Why does she do that? 

Does she think she is so important that she cannot wait to get her text messages until after her work out? 

How rude. 

The thoughts kept coming. 

The song kept playing and I was barely at 88 rpm. 

Judging has a way of slowing you down.

But, luckily, I suddenly pulled myself back to the present moment.

Are these the thoughts I want to think? 

Do I want to feel annoyed? 

Do I want to feel judgmental? 

What if she has a sick child at home, sick parent , a husband with a life threatening illness? What if she comes in 5 minutes late because she’s at the mercy of when a caregiver comes to take over and that’s why she’s always late and always putting her shoes on in the theater with her bag at the ready in case she is called back home.

What if that’s her life right now?

I softened, remembering how I felt when I had a medically fragile child at home.   I didn’t take the opportunity to get out of the house to get a work out in, she does and that’s so good.

The music changed, the rpm lowered and the suggested resistance went up.  Changing my thoughts allowed me to get my power back, no more judging, I took my attention away from her and back to me and the work out at hand.

What can you do if you catch yourself judging.....

First, forgive yourself, it’s a natural human flaw. 

Second, get back to the present moment.

Take back your mind.

Change your thoughts.   

Focus on your own race.  xo