You gotta stick with it.

My part-time gig at the gym is wonderful. I get to see and talk to a wide variety of people. Part of my job is to engage with people and even though I’m introverted in general, one on one chats with others really can make my day. I hope those I’m talking to enjoy it too.

Some of my other duties include keeping the equipment organized, cleaning the machines on a regular basis and mopping up any water bottle spills that happen.

Because we’re located near a couple colleges, we get many students who (bless them) are trying to keep in shape and not gain the freshman thirty pounds. They come in large numbers and bring life to the gym.

To be honest, however, what really inspires me are many of the older members who come regularly to stay in shape. As I’m on the cusp of getting old (somedays I feel like I’ve been there for years), I try to learn from these amazing people.

I’m hoping this is some sort of generational change. In the past, our parents didn’t exercise at all. How could they? They were busy working, taking care of the home, making dinner, cleaning the house and trying to get some rest. I’m thinking that people now realize how important it is to take care of your health. As we start to live longer, it’s not so enjoyable if you’ve added several pounds and have tons of aches & pains. Getting older is one thing, but not feeling good is worse. You want to feel as healthy as you can for as long as you can.

I want to share a couple stories but to keep it anonymous, I won’t give a ton of personal details.

A lovely woman, who I know to be more than a decade older than me, was on the bench hoisting two thirty-five pound weights over her head. Up and down, she just continued and completed her reps. I shook my head in amazement. I chatted with her a bit and tried to lift just one of the weights. I could barely do so. Incredible. She’s doing her best to keep her muscles as strong as possible.

Another gentleman, comes regularly, stretches like crazy and tells me of the race he did over the weekend. His race speed is what I used to run in my thirties. He thinks nothing of it. Thankfully, he’s not in my age group as he would beat me easily. I try hard to mimic the stretches he does and hope to still be running, like him, for another decade or two.

We also have both active senior fitness and strength classes that meet every morning during the week. Each class is always full. I watch through the glass doors from time to time and am in awe. These are people in their sixties to their early eighties. It’s always packed. It’s a wonderful exercise class that keeps their bodies loose and also gives them a great chance to socialize afterwards. They are always laughing and smiling after class. I just love watching them.

It’s not always easy but these people show up. I try in my small way to encourage them and everyone who shows up. Somedays they say that they’re tired and don’t feel like working out too hard. I tell them that they did the hard part. They showed up and truly, that is half the battle. Any workout is better than no workout.

They show up. They work out. They feel good about it.

Every day, they inspire me to continue working out as long as this old body holds up.