Amazing Grace

Helloooooo...I'm baaacckkk!!

This time the reason for the brief sabbatical was not that I couldn't find the time to write, but rather that my family decided to take some time "off" and go up to the mountains of North Carolina to spend some good, quiet, quality family time.  As of today, it is "back to reality," but not without some major reminders of time well spent in North Carolina.

For me, I had a moment in North Carolina that I wanted to share with everyone. It is my hope that you'll read it and say, "Oh, I have moments like this!" or maybe it will inspire you to go out and FIND your moment like this one.  For me, the moment I will share (and it was just a very brief moment...but it was more than enough) came unexpectedly...but it is more than appreciated.  I have no doubt that in the weeks and months to follow, as I continue to work my way towards my goal of "optimal health," I will call on it in both good times and bad.

Enough of the lead in! Now, time for my story!!

While up in North Carolina, I had determined that I was going to stay on my "program" that had recently added physical activity (starting with working with a trainer, and recently having added up to 3 days additional of cardio).  With that in mind, I made my way over to the gym on property where we stay up in North Carolina.  I worked my hiney off on the elliptical machine, finishing up with a quick walk/run on the treadmill.  After I finished, I polished that off with a quick run-through on some weight machines with the resident trainer.  As I finished up my last rep, a dear friend of mine popped over and told me she was teaching the Spinning class at the gym.  I was thrilled - I used to bicycle a long, long time ago, but haven't done any cycling in years. I used to do up to 15-20 miles a day on my bike, though.  So Spinning really has been on my list of things to try out and see if it would work to add it to my exercise regimen (ideally, I'm looking for variety, as I'm quite terrified of becoming bored & not wanting to do it!).  I agreed to go and take her Spinning class on the following Monday.

Of course, then the doubts set in : what if I'm too fat? What if I don't know how to do it? What if I am so out of shape and overweight that I CAN'T do it...and everyone is looking at me, the fat chick in the corner who is turning purple?? 

However, this journey has had more than its share of doubts, so I powered through, and come Monday morning, I got my fanny on a Spinning bike (and no: for those of you who have done Spinning, my fanny has not yet forgiven me!).  AND I FELL IN LOVE!!

No kidding! No sooner was I 20-30 minutes into the 60 minute class than I knew that I had re-discovered an activity that I adored.  Although I could barely walk, I made plans to attend the Wednesday class...and the Friday class...and the Sunday class!! Now that I am home, I have made plans to attend my first Spinning class tomorrow morning (so, so, so excited!) in Jacksonville to continue the trend!

But it is not the discovery of this new love that I want to share with you now, but instead, what happened in my Wednesday morning Spin class last week...

Music is an important part of any class, but Spin in particular because it helps to keep you motivated. We had 5 people in our class on Wednesday - Bridget, who likes to sing (and I loved having her behind me), Mike, Molly, myself & the instructor.  We were at the top of a mountain and a beautiful rendition of "Amazing Grace" came on. From behind me, I heard Bridget start to sing. Then, to my right, Mike started to sing...very low...you really had to strain to hear both of them.  Within a moment, Molly had also joined in...and of course, I had been singing from the start (I couldn't let Bridget sing alone, now, could I?)...All of us, riding our bikes at top speed, raising our voices in praise.

Yep, you got it: I had a God moment. 

No question about it.  And of course, me being me, when I realized that I was having this beautiful, exquisite moment of clarity - One of those where you are where you're supposed to be, doing what you're supposed to be doing, with the people whom you are supposed to be doing it with...- what did I do? I almost burst into tears!!

For here I am, on a Spinning cycle, where I never thought that I would be; pedaling at top speeds, feeling fantastic, and singing "Amazing Grace." Ahhhh...God moments! You gotta love 'em!! At that moment, I stopped and thanked God for giving me this second chance -- this chance not only to improve my health, but to have such God moments.

And that, my friends, IS Amazing Grace.