“Good luck out there!” K says to H as she leaves the gym locker room. We laugh but a second later, we sense how true it is. K completes the thought for us, “Good luck out there---as you leave the safety of the locker room!” Yep. This place is a sanctuary.
Six mornings a week, I wake up way before the sun rises, lug my gym bag and myself down to the gym. Sometimes the party which happens on the streets of Seattle during the night is just winding down as I drive into the parking lot. Still wiping sleep from my eyes, I say good morning to K as I stretch on the mat before my run on the treadmill.
K has taught me a lot in the past two years. You might remember her for my post on Sauna Talks. One of the most transformative things she has taught me is the power of saying good morning to people. And it is an extra bonus if you can do so by name.
She knows nearly everyone’s name and will always stop what she is doing to say good morning. This small act of kindness has had a sort of domino effect and has changed the culture of the locker room in such a beautiful way.
Yes, the locker room at my gym is a sanctuary. Us women share the minutia of our days but also celebrations, injuries, catch up on weekends, travel, our parents hospitalizations, our own hospitalizations. And I’m a newbie. I have only been going to this gym for 6 years. There are many who have known each other since they themselves, now seniors, were children.
We know each other’s habits as we spend such an intimate part of the day with each other. Who brings their own soap and how many towels we each use. We know much more intimate things about each other that I would not share here, because to prove the point, the locker room is a sanctuary.
Writing is a lonely vocation. I am home alone for hours. I do not interact with others. There are no colleagues or work mates. Often it is these women who keep me connected and grounded. And I know I am not the only one.
There have been mornings I have not wanted to get out of bed. It’s not just that exercising doesn’t appeal to me, it’s getting out of bed PERIOD that does not appeal to me. Then I remember it’s Tuesday and D comes on Tuesday and I’ll get to talk to her while I put on my make up. Or it is Wednesday when M swims and I always have the best chat in less than 5 minutes. If I don’t go, I’ll miss all that.
And as we leave each morning, there is usually some pleasantry exchanged, not just “have a nice day” but “your hair looks good”, “You look good in that color” or “I hope your day is successful.” I consider it some sort of benediction, women honoring each other in our safe space. “Good luck out there, as you leave the safety of the locker room.”
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This week’s links!
I’ve always wanted to chat with Robert McCready since I met him on X. I finally got to as a guest on his podcast Evening Magic. Listen in on our conversation.
I’ve also posted a few reviews of the books I have been reading lately. Check them out here.
Writing is indeed a lonely vocation. My sanctuary is either the library where, oddly, I can be more social, or my back porch.
Yes, I too have experienced the locker room sanctuary early in the morning. There is something profound about people who see you sweat and watch you leave more polished for the day!