I used to hear these rumors that I was leaving. I don’t know how they started or why the story started (probably someone was tired of me and wished me gone). I got asked at the grocery store, church, the fitness center and it was, frankly, exhausting. I finally had to stay long enough for people to understand I really have no plans to leave. I think the number is twenty – stay twenty years somewhere and they figure “he’s not going anywhere – we’re stuck with him.” Sometimes in the dead of winter when the atmosphere is lacking of drama, some people make up stuff to add color. I always say, unless you have pictures or some sort of proof – don’t “share your story” because I won’t believe it.
So you all know (because I talk about it incessantly) I have this spinning bike called a Peloton. The spinning bike has video screen and I take spinning classes online competing with 500-2000 other riders, depending on the ride. There is this thing called a leaderboard on the right edge of the video screen that shows you how hard you are working compared to other riders. I like to work hard on the bike and my goal is to finish in the top 1%. Since I’m a heavier rider – the “work” on my bike counts more (similar to if 2 people ran the same mile in the same amount of time, the heavier runner would probably expend more energy). On the Peloton blogs are a lot of people who (are probably skinnier, my story) complain that I, and others who finish in the top 1%, must have easier bikes and we need to have our bikes recalibrated. Hmm. It’s always easy to claim a victim label as opposed to working hard. I choose to believe I’m doing the work to justify the placement. If those people want to come to my house and check my calibration – good, knock yourself out.
When we listen to others, doubt is cast our minds. Our minds are amazing and they can whip up a story in no time flat. A lot of times, we believe our stories and our days are created and our journeys are led out of paranoia and fear. A couple of things: one of my pastors once said “doubt your doubts” and Cy Wakeman used to remind me that fear stands for False Events Appearing Real. Please take this opportunity – in the dead of winter – to examine the “truths” that rule your actions. If they are based in reality, continue on and if they are based on rumor and speculation, stop and re-examine.
