Fact: Life is going to smack you up no matter how color-coded and organized your life is.
Today’s blog is based upon a problem that I have always had… keeping it in perspective. It is extremely difficult keeping perspective when life smacks you with a problem that appears to be insurmountable; so big that you are sure it will be the end of you.
I ride the Expedition Everest that we call life daily. The events I experience radically change my perspective where one moment I feel on top of the world and the next moment, an incident will reverse my positive perspective into negativity, panic and chipped nails.
In addition to “Watching the big mouth” on my “Sarah Leddy Construction List”… “Taking a step back” falls very near the top. By questioning and understanding my perspective, seeing the greater reality and being committed to a long-term vision, I have been trying to manage my efforts to keep it in perspective. This is much easier said than done, especially speaking for myself. Recently, I’ve had another perspective encounter that I’d like to share with you.
I’m very fortunate to teach private Zumba lessons to a professional company in the same business complex as WithumSmith+Brown. This company (BRILLIANT company that cares so deeply about the health and wellness of their staff) hires me to come in at the close of the work day and provide a romp-shaking Zumba class. We push aside the tables and chairs in the meeting rooms and get well.
On these days, I wake up, (and in the chaotic blur that is my morning) get ready for the work-day and pack my Zumba duffel of the things I will need that evening. Most days I am successful. But no matter how color-coded and organized I am, there are times something goes wrong. I pack knee socks, forget sneakers, accidentally add a Spice Girls jam to the playlist or forget to start the crock pot. WELL, it just so happens, that this particular day I forgot the sports bra. Ladies, you know what I’m sayin’. AND – on this particular day, immediately following my private class, I was subbing for an instructor friend at a brand new gym where I had never taught before. Great.
Warning: PG-13 activity ahead.
Men, I don’t pretend to empathize and understand your baseball cup mishaps. I’m not going to say I get why it’s so uncomfortable to ride a bike. But, you need to believe me. It’s damn near impossible to jump around without one of those bad boys.
Usually, my work-day leaves me scrambling to finish something around the time it takes to get ready to teach my class. So, of course, I leave a 10 minute window to get changed and to head over. This was when I noticed my unfortunate uniform situation. So I throw on everything but and scurry back into work, (into Corporate America with my neon pink pants) lock myself in 'Dear Collections Manager Debbie Massa’s' office and panic down the list of extensions of every female colleague I have ever spoken to. Needless to say, no one had one to lend. At my last resort and with 2 minutes to spare, I dug through the marketing closets only to find WithumSmith+Brown branded running shirts, sweater-sets, pens, mugs and calculators.
I’m whining. I’m panicking. I’m breathing heavy. I’m sweating. I’m embarrassed. I’m frustrated. I show up next door decked out in my normal Zumba uniform… layered in running shirts, sweater-sets and freakin’ ponchos. Immediately I start blabbing on about my “disaster” and begging for an extra sports bra. I’m talking – and I notice that everyone is especially quiet today… something’s… not… right.
It was at that moment, that I learned 2 days before; one of my Zumba students had a terrible accident. One of the 38-year-old secretaries for this company had an accident at home and passed away. This woman, this woman engaged to be married, left behind two children and many other loving family members and friends. This woman, this woman two-from-the-right in the second row with the beautiful brown hair who smiled through every class, had passed away. With no warning to anyone. A tragedy. My prayers and love go out to this woman’s friends and family.
Step back: I didn’t have a sports bra.
There are bigger problems. There are always going to be bigger problems. It’s so important – for YOUR benefit but also for those around you – to understand your perspectives and to take a look at the bigger reality. (I am doing my best to listen to this advice.) Making a commitment to do so will keep your thoughts and feelings in perspective and you will benefit. This particular event has reminded me to be fully concentrated on keeping things in perspective. This can mean your job, your friends, your family, your hobbies… just about anything.
Although it was a terrible way to learn a lesson, you can only live and learn and take the experiences you have to become a better person. And isn’t that the goal?
Until next time, keep it real.
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I learned this lesson a different way... but this is definitely one of the biggest things in the way I look at life. Basically, no matter how hard of a time you are having, someone else, is having something worse happen to them. So no matter what goes wrong you have to do your best to keep that smile on your face and look adversion in the face and keep going.
ReplyDeleteSorry about your bra situation... keep 2 in your car :) Just in caseee!!
Very true, perspective can be everything. I'm very proud of you and the emerging mature (with a fun side) WOMAN you are becoming. Inspiring Sarah, truly.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I too have forgotten to pack a sports bra, and it does suck. But as you so eloquently say, life goes on.