Late in 2021, my spouse and I drank the Kool-Aid and joined the cult known as Peloton.
Pause for definition: a Peloton is an exercise spin bike and you subscribe monthly to receive an enormous amount of spin classes and a variety of other exercise training classes like yoga, running, strength, and meditation. Ok back to my story…
We kept waiting to feel safe at the gym again and the kids to get older so it would be easier to make time, but I woke up one day after months of my spouse nudging me to join the Peloton club and I said yes. I knew it would be great for our physical health and I know exercise is also good for our mental health, but I had no clue just how kind, compassionate and thoughtful the instructors would be, tenderly caring for my mental health.
Yes, exercise has been good for my mental health, but as I’m weeping and sweating on the bike, it’s more than that… it’s instructors like Kendall Toole saying, “honor that we’re here, say thank you to your body, give it love back.” Instructor after instructor (I’ve tried many), they tell me over and over that I am good enough. They invite me into challenges, but more often than not, they invite me to love myself just as I am. They invite me into our Lenten theme, Good Enough.
But there is one more layer to the exercise love-fest; the music. Oh, the music. This is where we get explicit. I love a hip-hop ride. And yes, most of the playlists have explicit warnings.
But hear me out, aren’t these lyrics motivation to see yourself as good enough?
“You better check yo self before you wreck yo self” – Ice Cube
“Don’t let them say you ain’t beautiful” – Eminem
“Everything is everything. What is meant to be, will be. After winter, must come spring. Change, it comes eventually” – Lauryn Hill
“Everything will eventually come to an end. So try to savor the moments, cuz time flies, don’t it? The beauty of life is to make it last for the better. Cuz nothing lasts forever.” – Nas
“We always ignore the ones who adore us, and adore the ones who ignore us.” – Drake
I could go on and on, and yes I’m from the generation who loved this year’s Super Bowl halftime show! So the question and wondering I leave for you, where else beyond Broad Street’s Lenten theme are you hearing you are Good Enough? Is it from friends? Is it at a book club? Is it in a yoga class? Is it from yourself? Share in the comments!
(This is not a push to buy a Peloton or listen to explicit rap, but if you’re already there, you know what I’m talking about.)
-Written by Brittany Porch
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Spot on. I’ve been talking to friends about these classes and about how refreshing it is to be outside all the diet culture talk when I’m working out. Really appreciate the affirming messaging both in the Lenten series and from the workouts. It’s been really positive for my mental health. :)
Yes!
Instagram influencers.
Agreed!!
Malcolm & Nancy just sent this link and I’m so grateful ’cause I hadn’t read it yet. This is so great. Are you good enough? Of COURSE! Am I good enough – cancer and all – HELL yes! LUVU, Girl!
Cancer and all, you are doing good enough. We love you!
I love this. I find it on the bike as well as in my head during a nice run on the trail. It is also a common mantra from my wife and I to our kids who face a barrage of obstacles in school, sport and play. We definitely need those reassurances in all our lives.
Thanks Greg, it’s especially an important parent mantra!
Brittany,
Not a big Hip Hop fan, but I love the quotes. Saved to my quote file.
Music is so personal as far as interest, but glad these hip hop poets are in your quotes file :)
You are probably to young to remember or not born yet, but drinking the Kool aid made me think of the Johnstown mass suicide and I just did not follow the rest of your blog. Sorry, I must be too old to relate.
Yes, before my time. However, thank you for the reminder that even though the phrase is said in culture a lot these days to mean blind obedience or loyalty to a cause, it can still be offensive to those impacted by the Johnstown mass suicide. Also, that is why I love that we rotate who writes blogs and the topics we cover, some will relate better than others, so maybe next week will be more meaningful to you. Thanks for the comment.
My husband and I just got back from a 5 day trip visiting colleges our daughter has been accepted into. She always controls the music when we are in a car. I love hearing the great variety she listens to and why she likes the songs or artists. I am trying to live in these moments of joy as our life will greatly change in the fall. Music does help speak to the soul. Sometimes explicit is needed to express just the right feeling. My favorite gifts this Christmas were a gift basket from our kids of movie snacks and their top 20 recommendations for movie nights AND a playlist entitled “Mom’s Music” on spotify of songs the kids think I would like.