Gold stars for you both!

My day was made by two random people that I saw and neither of them did anything for me directly.

The first person I saw while out on a bike ride as I was helping my friend Chelsey to collect leaves and sticks so that she can make some kind of art project. Just at the bottom of a hill overlooking the Edmonton river-valley is where I saw the first guy. We were at the crossroads of the bike path and a set of long, wooden stairs. Either I could shift to low gear and ride the wide zig-zag up the hill or pick up my bike and hoof it up the stairs. I, being the impatient one that I am, decided to take the stairs. An older Chinese man, about 50-55 years old dressed in a long sleeved button-up shirt with black slacks rolled up mid-calf and crocks, carrying a plastic bag with a few newly purchased goods, was running up the lower set of stairs to where I was standing beside my bike, shoving some sticks into my back-pack. He seemed in a hurry, so I got out of his way. He passed me and started walking up the longer top section of stairs. I lifted my bike over-head and took the stairs two at a time, Rambo style, politely excusing myself as I passed the guy. At the top, I waited for my friend to slowly bike up. Here’s the part that made my day: the man got to the top, noticeably sweating, and he turned around and went back down the hundred or so stairs.

So many people see working out as impossible without the right equipment. Running requires good shoes. Working out of any kind requires an athletic shirt and maybe some spandex pants or shorts. You need protein supplements, diet plans, workout partners, gym memberships, a bowflex, dumbbells, heart rate monitor, weird fanny-pack with water bottle holsters and other nick-nacks. This old guy (I’m 24, over 40 is old to me, sorry) was running harder than most over-30s I know, in crocks and his work clothes, and that is why he’ll probably never get a heart-attack or shoot up insulin after every meal.

The second person I saw was a middle-aged lady in the Starbucks I am currently sitting in. She had one of a pair of the comfy, soft chairs that everyone always wants to sit in. I usually see people at tables get up and switch spots whenever someone vacates these chairs. A couple carrying a baby in a big basket thing came in and ordered coffees and, without being asked, this lady more or less forces the comfy chairs on the couple just because she thinks it is a more convenient spot for them to sit and have their baby close by them.

I liked this so much because the lady wasn’t asked and the couple made no gesture towards the chairs. She was actively thinking about people other than herself and just wanted to try and help someone else.

Seeing these people do these small things made a huge impact on me today. Just thought I would share it.

Jonathan Robinson
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
www.silentriverkungfu.com

Impatient

I’ve noticed that by not being lazy as a wander about on my daily errands, I can get a lot of working out squeezed in and still be on schedule or even ahead.

Most days I go to university. If it is nice out, I ride my bike and get a 20 minute workout. This is actually faster than taking transit. The bus to school would take about half an hour, and the subway takes at least 20 including walking to the stop. When I have to walk places (like to my car that I have to park 3 blocks away because my building has no parking grumble grumble grumble) I usually run there if I can.

When I get to the school, I can either ride a couple escalators up, with about 60 other people, slowly riding up, or I can take the abandoned staircase. If I take them two at a time, I can usually get to the top before the quickest escalator rider.  The same thing goes for the elevator when going to classes.

I think the main difference between me and the person taking to lazy way is that I am just too impatient to wait behind a crown trying to get on to an escalator, or an elevator that stops at every floor, or to walk slowly when I’d rather be there now instead of still walking there.

On that note, as someone who likes to use their legs, this Sunday I am renting a wheelchair and spending the day in it to see how that feels. My guess is I’ll feel pretty trapped. Maybe it’s a good day to try that escalator again.

Jonathan Robinson
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
www.silentriverkungfu.com