I had the best time today at the gym. Many might think that is an odd statement. After all, a person goes to the gym to work out, sweat and generally get tired from exercise. But I found myself in the middle of my workout class with a big smile and enjoying every minute of it. Why? It's simple. I have found my tribe.
When I first retired and went to the morning gym classes, the 8:30 a.m. ones, the time in the past when I would have been at work each week day, I was once again walking into a group of people that I didn't know and had to work to meet. This seems to be my destiny. I have always walked into new situations alone and made a spot for myself. Well this time, the new retired me not only entered a new situation, I found my tribe. A great group of women, the majority of which are 60 years old and older, who exercise, smile, laugh and encourage each other several times a week.
Today's class was a group exercise dance class. Here we were, a room full of women grooving to club songs , most of us with some grey in our hair, and having a blast. Now if someone were to look into the classroom ( and many do) I was wondering what they would see. I could imagine a TikTok of all of us with this song playing, the one we were working out to today:
It tickled me so much! Just imagine.
It's so much fun, but I kept thinking about what my kids would see if they walked by. I'm certain they'd laugh and love it. Much like the other night when we were all together for Christmas playing a card deck game ( Like "Apples to Apples" or any of the variety where you play by matching answer cards to topic cards). On one of my turns, I had to read a card that was so much cooler than I am, It had texting slang in it and honestly, I needed to be about 18 years old and have more of a swagger to carry it off, consequently my kids died laughing at the almost 60 year old white mama trying read the card. I was ribbed and teased but we all laughed until we cried.
That's how I felt today, with "my tribe," grooving to the club songs and having a blast even though I knew it had to be a sight to see.
It got me thinking. I think each of us are truly most happy when we find our tribe to be with. Each person may have a different definition of tribe. It might be a tight knit family, a group of friends in a social club, school peers, sports team, church members, co-workers, or any other set of people who share a common interest or passion. It must be something one looks forward to doing and the others in the group encourage attendance to feel a sense of belonging. Whatever the tribe, as long as it fulfills the needs of camaraderie and acceptance then happiness and joy will ensue.
As we approach the New Year, my wish for each person is that they may find their tribe, something to look forward to each day of 2023. And most of all, embrace the joy!
