When was the last time you tried something new? How long has it been since you could call yourself a beginner? When was the last time you willingly started something you were bad at?
It’s human nature to gravitate towards things that make us comfortable.. things we are good at. But this habit creates a pretty stagnant life and, if you ask me, life is far too short to not take some risks.. to not try something new.. to not muster enough braveness to be a beginner again.
Like most of you people out there who make fitness a priority in your life, quarantine had us searching for other ways to maintain this lifestyle. Many of our friends and family bought a Peloton bike and couldn’t say enough great things about them.
But, I was hesitant about this purchase for a couple reasons:
#1 The price tag. Are we really going to use this machine enough to justify paying $2500 and then a monthly fee?
#2 The cardio. I enjoy functional fitness and weight lifting so much more than just going for a long run or bike ride. Am I actually going to enjoy these classes or will I do them only because I feel like I have to (since I spent so much money on this machine!)?
#3 Being a beginner. I’ve only done a handful of spin classes in my life and, despite being in decent shape, those women smoked me every time! My competitive nature and ego didn’t love this.. so, did I really want to start something I know I suck at instead of just sticking to my usual workouts that I feel confident doing?
Thankfully, my husband was persistent about wanting a Peloton and I caved, despite all these hesitations. I took my first ride on our bike and, instantly, this fancy machine lived up to all its hype. I love it.
It’s super convenient having the ability to take thousands of different classes from the comfort of your own home. There are both live and pre-recorded classes and classes for all time constraints, skill levels and music preferences. They even have classes that can be done off the bike including yoga, HITT, meditation, strength and outdoors. The instructors are motivating and energetic and you can connect with friends! It’s only been a week since we’ve owned the machine but, so far, I’m very impressed.
Of course, during my classes, I often find myself glancing at the leader board to see where I stand (don’t worry, you can shut this off if you don’t want to see it) and initially I was frustrated that I was only around the middle of the pack. I hate being average! But the more I thought about it, the sillier this concern seemed. It’s okay to be bad. It’s okay to be a beginner. It’s okay to not be at the top. It’s okay. And most importantly, I remembered how much potential comes with trying something new.. an endless amount.
In life, we all experience being a beginner at some point.. whether we choose to or not. Starting a new job, moving to a new city, going back to school, entering a new relationship. All beginnings are a little scary and intimidating but they break down barriers, build our resilience and help us grow. And once you get over the hurdle of just starting, you will feel an amazing sense of pride in yourself because you are capable of much more than you realized.
Whatever new things you are contemplating in your life today, I encourage you to take the leap.. no matter how big or small it may be. It’s probably been too long since you tried something new.
Love, Jessica 