A Quiet Commitment
I’ve never been good at sports, so discovering the world of fitness has shown me how to get in shape without the competition and skill required of athletics. Long before social media, it was just a part of my daily rhythm, a secret between my running shoes and I, whether it was zipping to the gym after work or hitting the pavement. Later as I got into fitness apps, they would encourage us to post our progress as a way to foster community and accountability. I totally understand that and see the appeal. However; I’ve noticed while that is designed to be a motivating tool, I now find it to have the opposite effect. Occasionally I can feel pressured to exercise to keep up with appearances and consistently share. Now, I have reverted back to this simple arrangement between my running shoes and I. Instead of posting, I simply have put my head down, hit the ground running and am keeping this promise to myself; for myself; by myself. I love community, but in this age of over-sharing of everything from our avocado toast to painted toes, not everything needs an audience. When it comes to physical activity, showing up for myself is enough.
