That Time we Babysat for Ginger

Ginger is a giant orange tom cat who adopted my friends Shannon and Scott.

Me: “But why is HIS name Ginger?”

Shan: “You know, like HA HA HA look that guy he is a ginger?”

Me: “Oh my gawd, I totally get it. HA HA HA!”

Until I sat for him recently, I had only heard about him. One day, Shan asked me if I could stop over on a Sunday morning and let Ginger in so he could eat.

Me: “Why would I let Ginger IN? Does he party all night? Is he in a band?”

Shan: “Ha! No. We found he prefers to be outside at night then he makes his way back in the morning to eat and nap.”

Me: “Cool cat!”

Ginger the cat

Ginger the cat

The day after I agree to babysit Ginger Shan brings me a bottle of wine and directions on caring for Ginger along with pictures of the cat. Let me preface what I’m about to say next by pointing out that Ginger hit the jackpot with Shannon and Scott. He is the most loved and cared for alley cat I’ve ever encountered. I also hit the jackpot because I got a bottle of cab for letting a cat in the house. SCORE!

The directions provided me with possible places I should check for Ginger if he hasn’t shown up to eat on Sunday morning: a) under a car b) in a bush c) close by but not technically visible

The directions then provided me with strategies to lure Ginger into their apartment: a) Call out his name b) shake his bag of catnip he can’t resist c) Crawl under the neighbors car and get him

I woke up on Sunday morning and took my time getting ready for brunch in north county.

Larry: “Isn’t there something you were supposed to do this morning?”

Me: “I know, right? I feel like there’s something too.”

Larry: “Yea. Oh well.”

Me: “Oh crap! We gotta go find Ginger!”

Larry and I raced over and I’m reading the directions like bossing Larry around like, “Okay, I’ll go under the car and you go in and get the cat nip bag.”

I’m still reading the instructions as we round the corner.

Larry: “I found Ginger.”

Ginger: “Meow! Meow! Meow!”

In all his fiery red headed tom cat glory, there was Ginger on the top stair singing for his supper (err breakfast).

Me: “Crisis averted! Let’s get this cat fed!”

As Ginger eats breakfast I re-review my instructions not wanting to let Shan or Scott or Ginger down. They read, “After Ginger eats he likes to play with his blue toy on a string. He also loves it when you put down some cat nip by his scratching post.”

Larry grabs the blue toy which Ginger could care less about while I get him his cat nip. We both proceed to die of laughter as the cat saunters over an snorts a line of cat nip before wandering off for his nap.

Me: “Oh to be Shan and Scott’s cat. It is the best!”

Larry: “Good, Han. Can we go now?”

 

Ever Since I was a Lower Case c…

Recently, I had the opportunity to sub for one of the larger evening classes at CrossFit Humanity where I co-coached with my friend and senior coach, Alan. Reflecting on the experience, what seemed like a routine sub gig played out as coaches  rite of passage for me. Currently, we have two coaches running the evening classes because they are so big.  Keeping a pretty busy schedule during the week I hoped I could bring the energy level needed to be on my game. Not only did I feel my senses heightened but I felt a strong sense of confidence in myself. Coaching or leading any fitness class can be like a stage performance. You are required to be 100 percent present 100 percent of the time. You enter with a plan and a heightened sense of how long each activity takes but then tweak that plan when you start to recognize what your group actually needs. Having done a ton of running and squats the day before our members needed some loving (i.e.mobility) to their posterior chain.

Not regularly coaching large classes it can be nerve-wracking entering a class twenty plus people deep as a sub. I always picture and fear our members rolling their eyes or sighing. Hey, I don’t like subs. I get it! How could I measure up to your favorite coach and gym owner? Well, I can’t so I won’t try to. I’ll be Coach Hannah and pray that’s enough.

Co-coaching was a lot of fun because I could feed off of Alan’s energy and vice versa. I’ve always loved his sense of humor and looked up to him as he taught me from when I was just a baby coach shadowing him all those hours for all those months in the back driveway. Last night was my first time co-coaching where our load was evenly split. I wasn’t sure how much Alan would reign me in but I’m happy he trusted me. Sure I’ve been coaching every Friday for a year now but Alan hadn’t seen my growth. If my memory serves me correctly, this is the first time we have co-coached a general class together and it was a blast! We had a mutual respect, rhythm and had fun with it.

Coach Alan and me

Coach Alan and me goofing off

I discovered co-coaching is different from my usual Fridays solo because it is the definition of team work. You have to communicate before class. You have to communicate with body language only during class. You have to COMMUNICATE. It also showed me how important it is to have chemistry with the other coach. If you’re on the same wavelength and can easily read the other coaches body language it’s easy.  Last week was a rite of passage for me. I no longer feel like I am Alan’s shadow and was given the freedom to bring my own style, game plan, and coaches eye as contribution to the class. Coaching requires a lot of preparation, tools and improvisation during the 11th hour. There’s nothing more nerve wracking than a gaggle of athletes staring at you and deciding in the first 20 seconds of you opening your mouth if they respect you or not.  Coaching is challenging, requires a ton of mental & physical energy and I’ve loved every step along the way learning, failing, refining, re-trying. I told myself in the beginning I’d just keep swimming and that’s what I’m continuing to do.

Practicing Compassion in Your Fitness Community

working on her flexibility

working on her flexibility

I learned this from lesson from my mom. She taught all kinds of aerobics classes when I was growing up and always knew everyone’s stories. She loves people’s stories: The tragedies they’ve endured, the mountains they’ve conquered and the struggles they’ve had to create healthier lifestyles.

She encouraged women in their twenties through their seventies and they loved her not because she herself was a picture perfect athlete (although she has always been athletic) but because she normalized the concept of healthy lifestyle and cared about them. As a kid, I remember rolling my eyes in impatience because we’d get to her gym and she would talk for an hour with different members who came up to chat with her. I used to get so tired of waiting for her. My dad always complained about her seemingly “useless” chatter at her YMCA community. She should have been home earlier for dinner and not “wasted” so much time talking at the gym. Now that I’m an adult, I now see the power and meaning behind her “chats.” She inspired other people from her own commitment to her health and fitness (a leader by example) and provided a safe place, free of judgement for those returning from a hiatus recommitting to their own health.

Last leg of her triathlon

Last leg of her triathlon

In my own role as coach, I’ve seen members come and go, and a rare few who come back again. The ones who return are the ones I look up to and hold in the highest regard. I think the hardest thing to do psychologically, is to know you used to be in better shape than you are and decide to do something about it by returning to your gym to re-start that climb. Even harder is to return to a gym that is a tight knit community of friends because they know your dirty little secret: You’ve been out in the world living and for a multitude of reasons and may have struggled with making your own health a priority. If you have left and then returned, I have the utmost respect for you. You should not feel anxiety or judgment. On the contrary, be proud, be kind to yourself, and keep going.

 

Action Steps:

1. Fitness is a lifetime commitment with ebbs and flows due to life circumstances. If you haven’t experienced this it is highly likely you will in your lifetime.

2. If you are a gym regular, remember this struggle and identify with it. Reach out and show some love to those you know are struggling.

2. An act of compassion is simple: Show up and listen.