Level 10 WORDS!

Today is one of those days, when it's nice to have a place to rant share my opinion. So, here's my Taylor Swift moment because I am going to bring you something that has been troubling me.

Now obviously, I am okay with people sharing their opinions. One of my favorite things is to have conversation with others to hear their perspectives and life stories. Simply put - people fascinate me.
Some recent events though, have left me wondering if there is any consideration for others left in the world?!

Since when is it okay to nitpick, tear others down and straight-up be rude?

What makes it worse is that people seem to think it's perfectly okay to hurt someone else all in the name of opinion. I even heard a comedian joke about the phrase, "I'm just saying." You know? I am going to say something mean and critical, but it's okay because "I'm just saying." Apparently, "I'm just saying" allows you to be a complete jerk...I'm just saying.

Recently, I have had several fellow instructors at the gym share stories of mean comments and criticisms, dirty looks and scoffs, and quick judgement while instructing. It almost saddens me to the point of not having words.

You see, at Farrell's, every instructor started out just the same as each member - as a "10-weeker." I love that. Some come in more fit than others, but we know what it is like to desire change. We know what it is like to come in and have to stare your challenges square in the face. We know what it is like to have to bare it all for that 'before' picture. We know what it is like to have a workout so hard you feel like you could vomit. We know what it's like to feel great in a workout, and we know what it's like to feel like you cannot muster up one more kick or one more punch.

AND, we know what it is like to finish that 10-week challenge and decide that we want more!

When I was a "10-weeker," we had well over 100 members complete the session. We had probably 10 who went through the instructor training. Now, I do not fault anyone who opted out from the opportunity. Shoot, I even considered not going through with it myself. Most often when I encourage others to be an instructor they say, "Oh no. I could never do that." I believe most people COULD, but the difference is the willingness to put yourself out there. To be an instructor, you are making yourself vulnerable. You are choosing a higher standard, not just while leading, but in each of your classes as a participant too. This is okay. This is to be expected.

What isn't expected, and frankly shouldn't be tolerated, is rude and inconsiderate behavior. A few things that come to mind:

1. Talking throughout a workout (a. this is super distracting to the instructor, b. annoying/distracting to your classmates, c. means you're probably not focusing too hard on your workout)
2. Bad attitudes (Psst... No one is forcing you to workout. You chose to be there. Why are you so angry?) and Loud sighing and scoffing (A subset of bad attitudes)
3. Critical spirits and mean comments/swearing. (The middle of a workout is not the time to offer your feedback on a workout, let alone a negative, mean-spirited comment. Be respectful of the instructor and your classmates and hold your tongue.)

Now, I know this isn't an isolated situation to Farrell's alone. I have been a waitress, worked retail sales and many other thankless jobs. This same stuff happens there too, but no matter the situation, rudeness is not acceptable.

For those of you who like to speak up in life and share your opinion, please do! (Anyone in my life would tell you that I do - but I was raised to do so with respect and in love!)

Before you share your opinion (in word or action), take a moment to ask yourself a few things:

1. What is my motivation for acting/speaking up?
2. Will what I am about to say offer anything positive to this situation?
3. Do I have qualified knowledge of this field/topic?
4. Am I willing to take on the responsibility held by the person I am about to critique?

Yep, that #4 is the kicker! Joyce Meyer said it best, "Don't have an opinion where you don't have a responsibility." You see, it's easy to believe you know the best way to do something when you haven't done it yourself, because you're only seeing the desired outcome. You may even be able to see the path itself, but until you've walked that road, you don't know the obstacles, twists and turns that have to be made to get to the final destination.

Honestly, I'm not always perfect in my words and I cannot offer any excuse for those times. I know I have "just said" things before hastily, selfishly, in the heat of the moment and without all the facts. In those times, I didn't offer anything good.

Our words have power. The Bible teaches that our tongues have the power to bring life or to bring death (Proverbs 18:21). Don't believe that? I would challenge you to recall a time when someone spoke negatively to you. Did you feel full of life? Probably not.

I think of those targeted most - our school teachers, our pastors, our public servants, sometimes those closest to us - often those who are willing to put themselves out there and serve. At Farrell's, we don't teach because it is our full-time job or even because it pays well, we do it because we want others to experience amazing life transformations. We don't need anymore people wounded by words, so let's choose to speak LIFE in our daily living!


I am doing this and SO CAN YOU! Make it a Level 10 Day!