There have been many lessons that the gym has taught me throughout my life. The gym has taught me the meaning of desire, hard work, and trust. I’ve learned that the gym is a sacred place that lends us it’s sanctity whenever we choose to call upon it. It’s a building of mortar, brick, and wood to some, while to some of us it is the holiest of places. To all of us, it should be considered a place that takes care of us much like a mother. How do we keep the sanctity of the gym in tact? How do we allow others to feel that rush of energy that we feel when we step foot inside the gym? How do we become the caretakers of our church?
There are many varied answers to these questions, but there is only one answer that can sufficiently answer all three: Drop the baggage. What do I mean by this? It’s actually very simple. When I was 12 years old standing outside of opening of a building that would forever change the way I look at the world my father turned to me, got down on one knee and in a very dramatic voice said, “Son, I need you to listen very carefully to what I am about to tell you. Before you step foot through those doors I need you to stop and leave all of your worries and thoughts about life, girls (go figure), and anything else right here. Those thoughts will still be here when you get back. But you need to learn to leave all of your baggage at the door and pick it up on the way out.” It took many years before his words finally became a common practice of mine.
It’s important that everyone leaves their baggage from life at the door. Any worries you have can, and most likely will, adversely affect what you are attempting to accomplish in the gym. I have had close friends of mine that, after breaking up with a girl, go to “lift out the anger.” Guess who ended up in the hospital that night with a bruised shoulder (still not quite sure how that happened). I understand that for a lot of people getting to the gym is a way to relieve stress, and it still can be without bringing in those harbored emotions. It is very plausible to rid yourself of those emotions and still relieve stress. Most of the time, when leaving your baggage at the front door, the energy you experience in the gym lifts your spirits more than they would were you to weigh yourself down with the trials of life while working out.
Energy is all around us at the gym. If you are in the gym with everyone who hates life, you can feel that energy and it affects your workout and your energy. If everyone around you is working and is positive, then not only do you experience an amazing workout, but you experience a positive connectivity with your fellow man. It is up to us as gym-goers to foster that positive environment to help everyone reach their goals, their potential, and their nirvana.
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