That’s the word the gatekeeper used at my gym the other day, as she let me in.  “Enjoy” she said, and my first thought was not nearly as positive.  My old negative thinking is still  buried so deeply; I was a little shocked at the thought of actually enjoying going to the gym.  Then, my second thought was a feeling of automatic annoyance from all the waiters and waitress at restaurants who command me to “enjoy” my food.

“Come on, Dr. Chumley,” I say to myself – give them a break!  I need to give myself a break, too – all this old emotional baggage I’m still carrying.  Truth is, I DO enjoy going to the gym!  I do enjoy an occasional dining out!  Why can’t I just enjoy these great special perks of living without all my old nonsense?

So I said to the gym bouncer, “Thanks!  I will enjoy my workout.”  I did, too.  Jumping on a treadmill and checking my heart rate, and letting the machine calculate and setup just the right speed and elevation for me, and then walking just a little faster than I usually do was really enjoyable.  I was also listening to music, and enjoying that a lot.  There were some kids playing basketball in front of my eyes, and it was fun to see the enjoyment on their faces.  Revving up my heart rate to 80% of the maximum allowed for me was just the slightest bit of work, but even that was enjoyable.

I felt a feeling of deep satisfaction reaching my machine-targeted speed and elevation.  There I was “in the zone,”  in stride with pride, happy to be there, doing something really healthy.

I enjoyed my sweaty body.  The perspiration on my shirt was proof to the world that I had worked out.  Gone were my old feelings of total fatness and inferiority.  No more feeling like a fat-freak.  No more old negative thoughts like, “I’ll have a heart attack, this is so hard.”  I wasn’t out-of-control, or out-of-breath.  I actually enjoyed my gym.  I honestly felt great all the rest of the day from it with more energy, alertness, and vitality from that workout.  Let me not forget the terrific feeling of accomplishment I glowed in all day, too.

Let me wrap this up for now – as I’m off to enjoy the gym again today.  I hope to see you there.

Tell me, and our readers about your joy of movement, and how YOU enjoy your life.  Please comment, and email this to your friends.

Do you Tweet?  It’s sweet.  I’m on www.twitter.com/drnorrischumley.