Guest Blogger: Love Notes from the Fickle Monster, Part 17
I am sorry I did not write a love note last week, but I was not inspired. I hesitate to squeeze any juice out of an unripened lemon. I've waited a week; let's make some lemonade.
On Saturday mornings, I attend a Spin class with ten middle aged women and one sweaty dude who wears his Under Armour a little tight (I adore him). The class focuses on heightening the heart rate through pace and resistance. A confession: I always feel as if I could fall off the bike, my feet still strapped and pumping, and cause a pretty gory/embarrassing/awesome scene. Spin is not for sissies, and my spin instructor, with her resistance turned up to a ten and her pace at Lance Armstrong (with steroids), loves to yell things, such as:
"You are responsible for your own work out." So, she is telling me not to be a slack ass and actually turn my resistance knob up a notch.
"Make it worth it." A well meaning sentiment...when you are dealing with things like handmade greeting cards or pound cake.
"You're awake before most people in Virginia Beach, don't you feel awesome?" No, no, I don't feel awesome.
"Discomfort is not bad." I can't breathe.
AND MY FAVORITE:
"Push, push, push! You will never break through without the push." No comment...wait, yes...comment.
Well darn it, crazy lady in spandex shorts, you're right. Of course, I can easily agree with you when I am not sweating and weeping on top of a stationary bike. The truth is, I want to break through; I want to go beyond. I want to step into something great through hard work and a little pain but sometimes it is easier to give up, quit.
Forgive me for reducing this concept to an illustration from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, but a little nostalgia never hurts. Yes, I know the clip is seven minutes, and I know we're all really busy, but...
My favorite moment is right before they break through. Wonka confesses he has no clue what is going to happen. He just knows the Wonkavator is headed for something great, and he plans to break the glass ceiling. Yes, Wonka is crazy, but I am so thankful the creators of this movie granted us, children, adults, skeptics, and believers, the vision of a miracle and empowered us to pursue our own. They told us to push the buttons and break the glass ceilings.
What are we are all too afraid to break?
We handle our restraints so delicately, permissively.
Have we convinced ourselves these ceilings are unbreakable because we are not strong, talented, good, smart, or pretty enough?
Are we waiting for someone else to break it for us or simply with us?
We get close, leaving our fingerprints, hints of escape but no cracks.
Do we visit our ceilings, promising to break them tomorrow?
We have this very moment, this ounce of space, the breath of air.
We have miracles in our very fingertips.
Push harder. Break free.
And do not apologize, do not look, hold, and turn back.
I dare you.
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She is an actress, teacher, Christian, lover of the written word, and men who can change the tires on a car.
On Saturday mornings, I attend a Spin class with ten middle aged women and one sweaty dude who wears his Under Armour a little tight (I adore him). The class focuses on heightening the heart rate through pace and resistance. A confession: I always feel as if I could fall off the bike, my feet still strapped and pumping, and cause a pretty gory/embarrassing/awesome scene. Spin is not for sissies, and my spin instructor, with her resistance turned up to a ten and her pace at Lance Armstrong (with steroids), loves to yell things, such as:
"You are responsible for your own work out." So, she is telling me not to be a slack ass and actually turn my resistance knob up a notch.
"Make it worth it." A well meaning sentiment...when you are dealing with things like handmade greeting cards or pound cake.
"You're awake before most people in Virginia Beach, don't you feel awesome?" No, no, I don't feel awesome.
"Discomfort is not bad." I can't breathe.
AND MY FAVORITE:
"Push, push, push! You will never break through without the push." No comment...wait, yes...comment.
Well darn it, crazy lady in spandex shorts, you're right. Of course, I can easily agree with you when I am not sweating and weeping on top of a stationary bike. The truth is, I want to break through; I want to go beyond. I want to step into something great through hard work and a little pain but sometimes it is easier to give up, quit.
Forgive me for reducing this concept to an illustration from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, but a little nostalgia never hurts. Yes, I know the clip is seven minutes, and I know we're all really busy, but...
"Hold on tight, I'm not exactly sure what's going to happen."
So today, I am curious about my glass ceilings and why I refuse to break them. I'm curious about yours as well.
What are we are all too afraid to break?
We handle our restraints so delicately, permissively.
Have we convinced ourselves these ceilings are unbreakable because we are not strong, talented, good, smart, or pretty enough?
We shamefully entertain lies as company.
We get close, leaving our fingerprints, hints of escape but no cracks.
Do we visit our ceilings, promising to break them tomorrow?
We always believe we will be better rather then we are better.
Or are we all so comfortable, so stagnant, that we have fallen asleep in the light?
Wake up, weary world.
Break it.
Break it today, quickly.We have this very moment, this ounce of space, the breath of air.
We have miracles in our very fingertips.
Push harder. Break free.
And do not apologize, do not look, hold, and turn back.
Break the ceiling. Be great.
I dare me.
****************************************************************
Cora Ruth Flottman is the best friend, college room8 and a complete inspiration to Sheila.
She is an actress, teacher, Christian, lover of the written word, and men who can change the tires on a car.
She blogs here every Friday (when inspired).
Another one of her favorite lines from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,
"So shines a good deed in a weary world."
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