Where is your Gym Bag?

Where is your gym bag? It seems like an easy question, right? The answer to this simple inquiry can reveal a lot about an individual and how they prioritize fitness.  Is it always at the ready by the front door? Is it stuffed in your closet? Packed up in your car? Or does the mention of a gym bag make you say, “Why would I have Jim’s stuff anyway?”

Is the location of my gym bag really that important? I mean, it’s not like it’s my purse – something that contains my lifelines… my car keys…my ID…my money…my phone.  Forgetting these items can make me feel stressed, anxious, and lost.  They are critical items and can turn a good day into a bad one real quick.  Definitely not the same with a gym bag.  Or so you might think.

When you really think about what your gym bag represents, it just might surprise you!  My gym bag represents my commitment to my health and well-being, as well as a reminder that fitness is a priority in my life.  When I work out on a regular basis, I handle stress better, I can successfully multi-task, I feel confident and healthy.  Making exercise a priority, keeps my life in balance.  Ultimately, fitness makes me a better wife, a better mother, a better professional, and a better person.  My gym bag reminds me that it is okay to take care of myself , and having it readily accessible limits my excuses and prioritizes my health within my daily schedule.  Similar to my keys or wallet, remembering my gym bag keeps me relaxed, less stressed, and more prepared for daily challenges.

Sometimes your lifelines can be found in unconventional places.  While my gym bag may not pay my bills or hold my appointments for the day, it represents something just as important.  My gym bag is a link to my inner self – the version of me that comes out after a good workout making me feel fit, healthy, and happy.  My gym bag not only holds my running shoes…my iPod…my yoga mat.  It holds my sanity…my stress-relief…my happiness.  Sometimes those are the lifelines that matter most because they keep me balanced and on track to a good day.  Even when I can’t find my purse.