Good afternoon, Monday. It was one of those fabulous summer in the city weekends- full of great friends and loads of rose and sunshine. Khan was in great spirits and feeling much better and all was lovely. I forget sometimes how important seeing one's people is- I need to make it more of a habit. What is life without friends (and rose)? I swear I could wake up in the middle of the night and drink rose- there simply is no wrong time when it comes to the (very light so it's the good) pink stuff.
So after a weekend of indulgence and fun, the gym was a reluctant but necessary evil today. I took a lunchtime spin class (a rarity) and found myself really struggling through it. Not only did the music kind of suck, but the teacher. THE TEACHER. He was wearing khakis. Yes, khakis. And didn't get on his bike once, but bossed us around the whole time. I absolutely loathe that.
If you are going to teach a class, lend a hand, lead, follow or otherwise, you have to be in it. To win it and such, yes. But also to motivate. I found myself wanting to stick hot pokers in his eyes- how dare he tell us what to do but not do an ounce of hard work himself? It's one thing if an instructor is injured- but no. This guy was just plain lazy. I mean- it's Monday. We're all lazy. But help us out a little, would you? And what's with the khakis?
And yea, this is not that interesting of a story. We've all taken a gym class like this. But what I realized is that I really hate when people expect something of you, but don't participate or practice themselves. You can't teach or inspire or lead if you're not willing to do the work. That's kind of textbook isn't it? And whether you're just starting your career or have been written up in "Corner Office", it matters not. You simply have to stay in the game to not only gain respect, but to make people want to work harder and sweat right along with you. I'm not suffering those who remove themselves from the trenches just because they feel like wearing a fake dress pant.
And really this all ties in to a Friday night viewing of "Lemmy", the amazing documentary about the legendary lead singer of Motorhead and one of the most rock and roll human beings to ever walk the Earth. Now whether or not you've ever growled "Ace of Spades" at the top your lungs (guilty), you should watch this- amazing. Here is a guy living in a nothing special apartment complex in LA, who sits at the Rainbow most nights downing Jack and Coke and Lord knows what else, and for all intents and purposes is the ultimate rock and roller. He never gave up. One of my favorite quotes of those interviewed about the Lemster came from Dave Grohl, who called out the Stones and icons of mine like Keith Richards for yammering on and on about how they survived the sixties as elegantly wasted icons, yet no longer live a rock and roll life- after all, he notes, you can't be rock and roll and stay at the best hotel in Paris. He's got a point.
I'm not going to disagree, and though nobody is saying you have to have a lifelong drug habit, you gotta be who you are and not sell out and most of all be of the thing that people love you or come to you for- Lemmy's the real freaking deal, and though I head he has been having health issues, that guy has lived life in a truly authentic and badass way- and he is in it for the music, for the debauchery, for the fans. Screw the khaki clad spin instructor. I'd rather hang out with Lemmy. He gives life everything he's got.
Cause that's what's up this gotta be in it and not quit it kind of Monday in the 212. Go forth and be part of something. XO
PS Lemmy would NEVER take a spin class and subject himself to such bullshit. But I'll never be as cool as him so I'm good with that.