Every Little Thing by April Jeppson

 

I posted this thing on Facebook the other day that said “The gym in 2019 — If you see someone struggling with equipment, help them. If you see someone who looks uncomfortable, smile at them. Make them feel welcome. Everyone has a right to be there.”

I’m pretty sure I’ve posted something similar every year for awhile now. It takes almost zero effort to smile at someone, and I’m a firm believer that more people should be smiling while working out.

I have evolved into this person who is responsible for welcoming others into the gym. It’s my job — my duty really — to make eye contact with people, smile, say, “Morning.” It’s funny for me to think that I’m the one who needs to help others. That I’m the one who should show newbies how the machines work. It wasn’t always that way.

Seven years ago I decided to go to the gym. My daughter was a year old and was sleeping through the night, and I was ready for a change. I had done workouts from my TV with minimal success. It was too easy for me to pop a DVD in one day and then not do it again for a week. There was no accountability. I also kind of wanted to get out of my house, so the gym called to me.

I had a friend who attended the gym down the street, so it felt like a good fit. I mostly did the elliptical. My experience exercising was limited to high school sports conditioning and whatever dance/workout moves the Beach Body DVDs taught me.

As the weeks went by, I slowly got more comfortable. I would cautiously walk by the machines, and if no one was around I would read the little picture directions on the side. If I was feeling brave, I would try out the machine. At home, I would google the workouts and how they were supposed to look. I really didn’t want to look like an idiot.

As I spent 45 minutes on the elliptical, I would watch people. I would see the older men gather and talk to each other. I would see the younger men walk back and forth from the drinking fountain to the weight area. I would see the women doing cardio. Occasionally, a woman would use a machine or go into the free weight area. I thought those women were the coolest.

After a few months I was using the leg press, the arm thingy… the one that looks like you’re getting ready for a gynecological exam. But there were still machines I couldn’t’ figure out. There was one gentleman in particular that struck me as approachable. As he was taking a break between sets on a machine I was curious about, I went up to him. “Hey, this might sound weird, but can I watch you use this machine, I can’t quite figure it out.”

Those were the first words I spoke to Craig. He smiled and made some joke about how he wasn’t sure if he was using it right, but I was more than welcome to watch. I was so nervous to ask for help, and he was nice to me. I look back on this moment as pivotal.

If he would have been rude, or unapproachable, or laughed at me, I might have switched gyms — or worse yet — just given up on my physical wellbeing. I recounted this story for him this week. We were in the corner of the gym setting up our mats so that we could do some ab work together. I don’t think he remembered the incident it at all, but that simple conversation was the start of our friendship.

As we go into the new year, the gyms will be loaded. If you’re new, don’t be afraid to ask for help. The people you work out with are probably a lot nicer than you realize. If you consider the gym your second home, don’t forget to look up from mixing your protein powder and smile at the people you don’t know yet. You never know which one of them will be your workout buddy in seven years.

Albert Lean April Jeppson is a wife, mom, coach and encourager of dreams.