A secret world

Every time I log back onto Blogger it feels like coming home. Don't really know what it is that keeps me coming back here, but I like it. It's something consistent, almost tangible. Like an anchor that keeps me grounded, keeps me from letting my mind get the best of me.

For the longest time I've thought about possible subjects to write about without repeating myself. Although on the other hand, a recurring subject, a red line throughout these heaps of words couldn't hurt now, could they? Or maybe an amalgamation of subjects is needed to keep this blog vivid and interesting? I still haven't quite figured that part out.

So anyways, I'll begin by letting you in on this little secret world that I've stumbled across. It's a world played out entirely between four walls, of which two of them are completely covered in mirrors. The entire surface is covered with mechanic devices that allow the people in that little world to become something else, something better. I'm talking about the gym, of course!

Whenever I'm at the gym, slaving away on some infernal machine that has the power to burn off those excessive calories, I allow my eyes to slide across the room and see how my fellow slavers are doing. So far, I've encountered quite a lot of intriguing people there.

First off, there are the Workout Nomads, they are a special brand of fitnessgoers who are seen exclusively around the halters and bench presses. They are called Nomads because they don't seem to have a set course, they just wander around between the gleaming equipments and occassionaly do four or five pull ups. The strange thing about is that they don't really look as if they need to work out, since they already have the perfectly sculpted body. It would be best not to look at them too much or else you might leave the gym feeling jealous and slightly enraged.

Secondly, we have the case of the Elderly Resistance Fighters who try desperately to fight off the encroaching clutches of time itself. They wage a silent, but inevitable war against aging and sagging skin. You see them running for their lives - or to the extent that their bodies allow - to stay ahead of the effects of time. Seeing as how they've survived at least one or two wars, they are quite the fighters and should be approached with the utmost caution.

The gym also features a more pesterous and annoying type of fitnessgoer, namely the Chatty Cathy. In most cases this type comes in female form and has a very distinct feature: it can't stop talking or laughing loudly and obnoxiously. This is the kind of type you'd want to avoid if you are thinking of doing fitness on the long term. They usually just hang around the fitness equipment, rather than actively do something. Be weary of the Chatty Cathys that come in packs. If you see more than one of them together, it is advised to stay clear of them lest you succumb to their never-ending chatter and giggling.

Yes, the gym does seem to create its own little world in between its four walls. A world where beauty runs skin deep and the sculpting of bodies is considered to be the first and foremost activity. For some this world will be a way for them to show off their perfect bodies, while for others it will become their personal hell on the way to becoming perfect.

But unlike the rest of the world, there is no hierarchy within these exercise sanctuaries. There is no ruling body, no governing entity that tells you what to do. It comes down to just you and your mind. And in a way your mind is what guides you through it all. It's what keeps you motivated when you feel like you're about to break down on the treadmill, it's what compells you to go on, it's what releases all of the good chemicals into your body after a good workout. In a way, your mind acts as a personal god. Only, this one actually listens and rewards its believers.

The gym can be a lot of things. It can be your Shangri-La or your own Vietnam. But the most important thing is that it can be your ticket for a better and healthier life. It can be your catalyst for change, for a new you, a better you?