By Jami Banks
I went to a wedding last night, a supreme occasion. The bride was beautiful, the flowers were a delicate array of lavender, white, and yellow, and just enough people there to witness; the perfect outcome to one’s perfect day.
Instead of wishful thinking on my future trip down the aisle, I sat in the back pew congratulating myself for being single. What use do I have for a significant other when I have dumbbells, a treadmill, and usually twenty well-developed men around me sweating from a heavy set of incline flies?
I am by no means a raging feminist. I love men. Nor have I grown bitter due to bad relationships. However, a string of bad luck has tainted me, and now I choose to replace relationships with health and fitness. It is my defense mechanism that proves to be a success in the business of romance. Nobody wants to be in a vulnerable position with possibilities of emotional pain.
With working out, the only pain I get is an intense burning sensation in my legs after a set of squats. Insanely enough, I love that pain. It is a pain that tells me I am doing something right. The burn indicates that you are training hard, and you’re getting somewhere. Pain in love means you are not building, and definitely not performing the exercise correctly. Now, I say, try a new exercise. Sometimes the other party wishes to change the whole workout all together, and the only thing certain is the thirty minutes of cardio needed to fit in between classes.
There is nothing worse than a significant other telling you that “We need to cool off for a while,” or “I don’t think this is working.” A lump grows in your throat and butterflies swarm about your stomach. You can’t blame the other person, so you spend all your time questioning what is wrong with you, and what you could have done differently to keep them around. Here is my solution– go to the gym. The weights will not make you feel insignificant, and you know you will be satisfied when you leave the gym. We’re not always guaranteed satisfaction in our relationships.
You are probably asking yourself “What is wrong with this girl?” I’m a little bitter, okay? I’ve got experience in the “we need to cool things off” department, and it crushed me. I spent six months getting to know this guy, doing all the right things like being myself, being honest, and trying hard not to fall for him. Well, I fell and, sure enough, he said, “We need to cool it off.” Now he lives in Florida, and I’m here in Louisville. How much “cooler” can it get?
The absolute worst situation is when you fall for someone you would NEVER picture yourself with. Then you’re falling for more than what is on the surface, and that makes it even harder. Because extensive time was put into forming an interest and growing a love for that person, you never really had any thoughts about breaking up. I was built up only to be let down.
I have worked out extra hard, and I feel better with each workout. I prefer my fitness to a relationship any day. Like I said, it’s safe. Though we have maintained a friendship, I do not think things will ever be the same. What I do know is that I’ll be on my chest and bicep routine tomorrow.
There are no bouquets or bridesmaids in my near future, not even a commitment. I’ll be in the weight room with all the men that I need.
