Going From Can't To Can

It was the first day of Boot Camp in 2011.  I looked around the room and noticed a couple of rookies fidgeting in their sneakers.  For the next hour Nancy, our drill sergeant, would put them through their paces – running, pushups, step ups, triceps dips, wall sits, lunges, squats, and more.  I wondered if they knew what they were in for.

Was it only six months ago that I was in their shoes?  I remembered walking into the studio, a large empty space.  I noticed some jump ropes hanging on a hook and a few hand weights piled in the corner.  Where were the Stairmasters and Elliptical machines, I wondered? What kind of gym was this?  Cause it wasn’t like any gym I had ever seen before.

When the music started for the first time that day, my heart leapt to my throat.  I watched the other students beat their arms and legs to the rhythm as they did jumping jacks.  I tried to join in, but by the end of the first minute I could hardly breathe.  This isn’t looking good, I said to myself.  I hope I don’t throw up.

Six months later, things had changed.  I still got winded from jumping jacks, but it would take a lot more to make me want to throw up.  I’d learned to hold a plank.  I'd started to run with enthusiasm.  I knew how to dip, lunge and squat on command.  I can’t say it’s gotten easy.  But I can say it’s doable.

Now it was a new year, a time for new beginnings.  I was looking forward to the challenges that the class would bring.  Jumping jacks? Let me at em.  Lunges?  No problem.  Squats.  I’m there.  Bring it on.  I can do it.

About halfway through the class, Nancy ordered pushups.  “Newer people can do them on an incline using the higher step.” She yelled.  “People who aren’t so good at pushups can use the middle step for less of an incline.  If you are good at pushups, I want to see you doing them on the floor.”

I made a beeline for the middle step.  Pushups suck.  I’m not so good at them, I told myself.  As I positioned my hands on the middle step I heard a voice behind me.  It was Anasia.  She’d been doing Boot Camp a bit longer than me.  The results were showing.  She looked great.

“Come on, Janice.” She said. “You can do them on the floor.”

I turned around and looked at her.  “OK.  But only because you insisted.” I said with a smile.  Then I dropped to the floor beside her and tried to keep up.

Sometimes you don't know you can do something until someone else tells you that you can.  Pushups? I can’t do pushups I tell myself.  Then someone else looks at me and says “Yes you can.”  And I have a chance to believe and I have a chance to do.  And suddenly I’ve gone from “can’t” to “can.” Or as wise old Yoda said, "Do, or do not.  There is no try."

Less than thirty minutes later, class was over.  No one had thrown up.  I watched the rookies file out.  “Good job.” I said to them with a grin.