Hope and Inspiration

I was pleasantly surprised today to open my eyes a little wider and see hope and inspiration all around me. I usually walk/ run the track while Noah is in Itty Bitty Basketball. I turn on my iPod listen to some great music and away I go. Today was different, even though I had music blasting in my ears I was able to quiet my mind and actually see those around me with a new perspective. I realized that there is good in the world, we just have to open our eyes. As I am walking round and round this track I look down to the first level of the gym and I am amazed by what I see. Incredible people. There are the very pregnant moms, about to pop, teaching a gymnastics class, the trainers helping men and women achieve their fitness goals, coaches who volunteer their time to teach 4 year olds basketball and the moms who give of their time to teach children about fitness and fun in the "kid fit" class. They are all happy, sharing their talents, sharing their smiles and joy, filled with patience, they are giving of themselves to another. They are proving that there is still happiness, hope and love for the new rising generation. They don't think they are doing much but they are changing lives.Then there are the amazing people on the track. Those that may appear the least inspiring are actually the most. There are two ladies walking one with a cast and another limping. One might think, why are they here they are slowing down the pace as we all try to get around them. But they are here at the gym despite their injury moving forward trying to heal! There is the mom who is in fantastic picture perfect shape yet I over hear her tell another that her husband challenged her to do a triathlon with him and she doesn't know who to swim so instead of saying "no" she's taking lessons. There's the senior walking group, as I call them, there diligently ever day walking and talking -they are in their 60's and 70's some limp, some out of breath but they are there and one of them today started running!! He zoomed passed me. He's wearing exercise pants (most of them wear jeans) and a button down shirt with a red baseball cap, clearly in his 70's but he's doing it running past us all. There is the sweet mother with toddlers in a double stroller they are screaming at the top of their lungs- we all can choose to be so annoyed- she runs a lap, stops, tries to settle them down, sighs and starts running again- some of us shake our heads because the screaming really is bothersome but she is amazing she's not going to let anything stand in her way of her health, she is choosing to still come to the gym. There are examples of true determination, endurance, and hope all around us ...we just need to open our eyes, quiet our minds, and we will seem them everywhere. Every one at that gym, and their were hundreds, were doing good for someone else or for themselves in the way of health or fitness. Its was beautiful to see this good all around me. I will open my eyes more often!