Pilates class ended in a most usual way this morning. We sat upright on our mats, my eyes affixed on the clock. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy exercise classes, but at the end of an hour of anything, I am looking at the clock. When we nodded in thanks to the instructor, Linda from the mat next to mine commented that she was really going to feel it in her abs tonight.
Curiously, I did not feel a thing in my abdominal region, and from attending other yoga and exercise classes alongside Linda, I can tell you for sure it is not because my body is more toned than hers. The problem could possibly be that she worked a tad harder than I during class. Our Pilates instructor reminds us often to keep our abdominals tight throughout the exercises, and most of the time, I listen and follow instructions.
Ever noticed that while watching a movie with a group of people, some notice nuances and humor that blows right past others? Or a book club where readers will pick up on symbolism and themes that you never noticed? I find it interesting that what we gain from all experiences in life has everything to do with the gusto we bring into the situation at that moment. If I feel sad or anxious while reading a book, it will affect me much differently from if I read the book in a light-hearted, come-what-may mood.
I have spent many seminars and Sunday sermons where I felt enlightened and moved afterward, and conversely, sat through many sermons and classes where I had a mental grocery list completed and have pictured myself up and down every aisle of Kroger. The person next to me may have gleaned valuable information while I wondered what brands of ice cream would be on special.
As humans, we are put together in quite unique ways. Each of us learns differently and at our own speeds. Some of us prefer to get our fingers smudgy from reading news the old fashioned way; others feel most comfortable learning about the world outside our windows by sliding fingers across a touch screen. Some read the book, others wait for the movie. Romance works for one, adventure for another. It is what makes us different that makes us collectively wonderful.
I think of the similarities, yet striking differences of world cultures and religions. All religions look to a higher power for strength, yet on varying paths. All cultures of the world love to celebrate occasions with loved ones and family; we just find different reasons to whoop it up and spend days on end in the kitchen. Chinese New Year is celebrated very differently from American Christmas, but all the same elements remain in place – food, food, and more food -Family, friends, decorations and gifts.
Book club discussions can be quite a bore when everyone around the room nods in agreement at each discussion starter. Politics – OK, that is a different subject, but, funny, how after a State of the Union address, each news station will give its own recap and I often wonder if they saw the same speech I watched.
As much as we celebrate our differences, I must acknowledge that we gain more from experiences as we put heart and soul into the mix. If I approach an exercise class with a ho hum attitude, I get a nice stretchy-stretch for an hour, then walk away with decidedly no gain. If I use the time as it is intended – throw whole self (along with concentration) into a project gains expand.
Hmmm. That really seems to be true in all of our wanderings.
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