I Wonder (Asking, Pt. 2)
Saturday, April 26th, 2008(2 of 50)
I started thinking about asking the other day, when I realized that I hadn’t gone to work out in nearly a week. I’m not motivated. Even though I get there and within 15 minutes, I’m feeling strong and confident, and all Zen and just one rep at a time about it.
NOT motivated. How does one get motivated? There is no motivation to get motivated. One is already not motivated!
The still small (nagging) voice in my head said, “Ask the fitness director at the Y. Talk to her and say, ‘I’m unmotivated to work out.’” Within the computerized system for keeping track of our machine workouts, there is a button: Send A Message To The Instructor! The pre-fab message was “I have a question.” By just touching the screen, I sent the message and am waiting to hear. I’m not motivated enough to call her. (It may not work as I haven’t heard from her. Or oh no! maybe she’s nmotivated to get in touch!)
So now, I’m going to have to get serious about this, and I’m far too savvy to my own tricks. But I’ll try my favorite answer to questions like Baseball Player’s “why?” (See this entry.)
When asked “why” by a young person, my answer is often “I wonder!” said with just a touch of mystery and appreciation. It works with kids, sullenteens, crabby sleep-deprived college students and defensive continuing-ed adult students. It doesn’t work with all questions. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and there’s a simple answer to “What page are we on?” “What time is it?” Some do not respond well to the perceived-as-sarcastic “I wonder!”
But when said with sincerity and inquisitiveness, it opens up the possibilities, it challenges the brain to search, it kicks one over into creative mode.
Not motivated to work out? I wonder why? Hmmm. Perhaps I should find out. The Y fitness director might have an answer. I even have her email. I am motivated to switch to another window right now and send her a message.
I wonder what it will feel like to have already worked out. I wonder if I can sleep late tomorrow if I work out to alleviate back pain today. I wonder if I’ll come up with interesting blog topics while I’m on the elliptical. Hmmm, it might just be working.
I’ll see you at the Y. Maybe.