Letter to Mr. Muscles

Dear Big Armed Gym Guy,

I’m not sure you remember me, even though you probably should, but I was on the elliptical machine next to you yesterday. The reason I think that you should remember me is because you were clearly interested in studying my screen to see how many miles I'd traveled and how fast I was going. Now, while I enjoy competition, I feel that it was not warranted at that time. Just because you can go at 8.5 miles per hour does not mean that I have to do the same. If this is your way of showing off, it really wasn't working. However, I am flattered that you care what I think.

I'm sorry if you misconstrued my looking in your general direction as mutual interest in your elliptical stats, but I was actually looking past you to see if the treadmills were free so that I could go ahead and get my run in. I’ll concede, however, that your arms are very large and beautiful, but if I’m being honest, I’ve seen better – don’t feel bad though, I’m still not convinced he was human. :)

Now I’m not going to take up anymore of your time because I’m sure you have to go lift something, but just know that not everyone comes to the gym to compete with others, some of us really are there to workout/get healthy/etc.

Thanks for you time,
Island Girl

and on a related note...

Dear Gym Manager,

I understand that the temperature outside is in the low 40's, but the gym is not the place for heat. It is incredibly hard to run when there is zero air circulating and you feel like you're traveling through the Sahara. So if you wouldn't mind, please go over to the knob on the wall and give it a huge twist to the left.

Thanks,
Island Girl

Competitive? Um, Yeah!

Recently, while watching my current past time, the Olympics, more specifically the Women's Team finals in gymnastics, Mr. Second Chance called me a "bitch". Well he said, "You're kind of a bitch." This comment came after Alicia Sacramone's second fall on floor exercise. I'll admit, that I can be a little harsh, but I believe that when you're selected for a team over other people, you should be able to perform at a world class level, but that's just me. Anyway, he assured me that this was only in the context of watching the Olympics, and that he wouldn't call me that normally. I quickly corrected his assessment of me and told him that I'm just a competitive person, and that it doesn't matter if I'm actually playing or not, I want my team to win.

This whole conversation got be thinking however about how competitiveness and bitchiness are seen as interchangeable adjectives. To me, they're not. It doesn't matter what game or sport is occurring, if I'm involved I want to win, and if I don't watch out. I get mad, quite and take deep breaths...and anybody who has played against me knows that this is point where they need to back off. When I watch sports, specifically football, I'm part of the team. I refer to them as "we", cause again I'm on the team.

To me being competitive is a good thing. Without competition, people would be complacent and mediocrity would be the norm. If I'm wrong and competitiveness and bitchiness are the same, then I'll wear my "bitch" label with pride!