Zep & me

Ruth Munson — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 22:01:51 +0000

The alarm went off at its usual time: 4:46 a.m. It was one of those mornings that I could have easily justified turning off the alarm, pulling the covers over my head and going back to sleep. I had already put in four days at the gym this week, my body ached, I stayed up late the night before and had a busy day planned that would go well into the evening. Another hour of sleep was earned…

I hit the snooze.

Then I remembered.

Zep would be waiting for me. On my driveway. In the cold. At 5:10 a.m. Darn, I had to get up!

Zep is my neighbor. She and I have joined forces to keep each other accountable to, well, ourselves and to our five-day-a-week regimen of cycling, weight training and other activities in a class dubiously called, Guts, Butts & What.

Zep is a stay-at-home mom with two young children and this is the only time she has to workout. My workday is filled and often goes late. Early morning is our only option. We made a commitment to each other that – barring illness, injury or some other defensible excuse – we would support each other in this morning madness. No saboteurs here.

My neighbor and I keep each other focused on those days when we just want to pull the covers over our heads. I wish I could say that I would get myself to the gym even if Zep weren’t waiting. The fact is most days I would, but every once in a while, it’s only that I made the commitment that I make the extra effort.

I take my commitments seriously and so does Zep.

So, I rolled out of bed. Brushed my teeth. Threw on some clothes. Grabbed the gym bag and headed out the door. She was there. Right on time. We made it to class yet again.

Commitment honored.

*Note to my political opponent: No need to photoshop my pic for your next campaign mailer. Come to the gym at 5:30 a.m. – no make-up, lots of sweat, uncombed hair and the painful grimace on my face is genuine.

GlassHouse » committment

Zep & me