If You Want to be Treated with Respect, Start Paying Attention
Why you should always do the right thing, even when others don't.
I’d finished up my workout in the gym. Rolling up the yoga mat after doing a few cool-down exercises, I returned it to the shelf along the wall that held all the mats, muscle-releasing rollers, and yoga blocks.
Before heading into the main weight room to retrieve my husband and head home, I glanced around. I’d been focused on my workout, and not paying much attention to those around me.
But I should have been more aware of what was going on.
Like a trail of discarded obligations, I saw steppers, hand weights, and barbells scattered on the ground all over the place. The room looked like a virtual minefield, littered with a dangerous collection of trip hazards lying in wait to take someone down in seconds.
As I surveyed the area, I had to wonder: Why do some many people have so little regard for others by exhibiting such irresponsible and selfish behavior? Is this the way they act at home and, if so, why do they think it’s okay?
Really, even a six-year-old knows to pick up their toys and games and put them away after they’re done playing, especially if they want an ice cream cone after lunch.
What really got under my skin is that the owner had diligently posted signs on every wall of the facility reminding members to return weights and equipment to their proper place when they were finished using them.
Apparently, the signs were being ignored.
The owner had left half an hour ago after receiving a phone call about a family emergency.
I guess that presented an opportunity for some to revert to an arrogant, entitled adolescent. Maybe they thought there was a magic fairy that would swoop down to take care of the mess the moment they stepped out the door.
Or maybe they had the distorted notion those simple instructions pasted on the walls had nothing to do with them — because they lived by a different set of rules. Because it sure looked like a lot of people were in a big hurry to get home and watch TV or eat dinner or catch up on TikTok and Instagram instead of cleaning up after themselves.
While I don’t want to consider that possibility, it’s becoming a more likely scenario.
There was no way my conscience would allow me to leave a place I used, enjoyed, and respected in its current state.
I snagged my husband and, together, we pitched in to pick everything up and put things away.
Maybe the next person who walked through the door would notice how neat and tidy the gym looked and how easy it was to find what they needed and get started on their workout.
Because everything was where it belonged - which is exactly what makes life great in the gym for everyone.
In the meantime, I’m keeping a good thought that others will shake off their selfish attitude and decide to leave the place better than they found it - no matter where they are.
I can only hope …
In health & happiness,
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Jill Reid is the author of Real Life, Discover Your Personal Truth, Life in Small Doses, and Please God, Make Me A Writer. Her books, videos, and newsletter explore life, relationships, self-improvement, health, and personal success strategies for working through the challenges of everyday life.
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