Each morning, when I set out for the garden, I chose a tablet for my playlist and roll out. Today I am on SOULGROOVES.
I am sketching diagrams of the gardens so that the young ladies who are following in my footsteps, will have a guide.
It’s beautiful outside; after a long winter, filled with covid and grey skies ; I have a touch of spring fever.
Before I could even check out my tool bag, my co-worker needed some space to vent about an ongoing issue she is having with a bunk mate/ girlfriend. As I drank my morning coffee out on the porch of the compound cage where we keep our equipment and meet each morning to sign in and touch base, she began to paint a picture of power and control.
Her companion has been negative, stressing out and spending a lot of time arguing with her. Degrading her.
I listened carefully and gave her the space to let it all go, took a deep breath and asked her how this acceptance of treatment might translate to her future, her future freedom. She said she has been thinking about this too.
I explained what I know to be true, it’s not so much about the other girl, it’s about her and how she responds and the boundaries or lack there of and most importantly, why she repeatedly attacks and is attracted to this type of person; by her definition, narcissistic and psychotic.
I shared with her what I know to be true: WE, as felons, have lost the luxury of dating bad boys and girls, we no longer can afford to have toxic relationships….unless we prefer our life here. Either way, you are in prison.
I used to be a lot like her friend, before I found my Zen. It is my opinion that she keeps herself on a heavy metal stress loop, rocking out and doing hard core workouts, but never taking the time to stretch, meditate and chill.
My spring fever was so intense that I ended up helping the girls mow.
After lunch, I met some girls at rec whom I have been working out with for so many years. So many springs we have popped up to resume after a cold holiday season- they know I will be there with the perfect workout regimen. They are so beautiful and energetic. They inspire me.
We met at same racquet ball court that we have been on for so many years, same bench held the water jugs.
We started with a 3 count suicide shuffle, walking high kicks with a medicine ball, squats with the ball, squat tap jump, lateral sweeps with the ball, and about a dozen other squat and lung- type of moves.
There were times when I was really strict as a trainer, most times- if someone started talking, I would remind them that the HIIT book says that if you can talk you are working hard enough. But today, we had the best time, as they recalled all the funniest things I ever said or did while training them. VA-jay-jays to the sky ladies. Most of it was not appropriate to say here, in mixed company. Suffice to say, it’s bitter sweet.
After an hour, we dragged out black mats out to the grass where we did abs and Pilates and when I looked around, I was amazed at the idea that for so many years, this has been my yard, and soon it won’t be. I have spent so many years being creative in utilizing this space in a million ways to keep from loosing interest in fitness. It was super fun. I know I changed so many young women’s lives on this yard, taught them so much. And they changed me.
At 3:30, I went in and had an ultrafit bar with black decaf and honey. Later, I cleaned the dandelions I gathered in the morning- in a bowl I mixed a package of Salomon, egg and peppers, folded it into the dandelions and rolled it up in a tomato wrap. I look forward to a time when I will not have to eat only fish out of a package.
After count my co-worker come along, ” thank you so much for talking to me this morning, you really helped me get a better perspective.”
Soulgrooves playlist:
Wake UP Everybody – Harold Melvin
Eleutheria- Lenny Kravitz
Bag Lady- Erykah Badu
Higher Ground- Stevie Wonder
I Am Losing You- John Lennon
Let It Ride- Robert Glasper
Magic- Robin Thicke
We Get Along- Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
