Dedication

Voices fill the room. Nearby, “We’ll start on bench, I guess.” From across the room, “We need to change the weights.” Another corner, “You’re doing sit-ups while we’re doing jumps.” An explanation, “And then there are breaks between the music and we switch.” Finally, “So whose in front of me so I can follow them?”

The controlled commotion in the weight room is fun. It’s fairly early on a Monday morning, 7 a.m. 10 girls have shown up to do morning weights. The music starts and the athletes begin training. An 11th one arrives a little late. “Hello’s” are given to her from around the room, greetings from all.

Up and down, clink, jump, jump, jump. The sounds of different stations fill the air. The music stops and not a word is spoken as the girls rotate stations. Up and down, clink, jump, jump, jump. The patterns repeats as the girls start their new stations in the high school weight room. It repeats over and over as the music starts and stops.

I wonder, as I watch and listen, if they realize they are setting a pattern that can be used the rest of their lives. The weight training is good, many of us have forgotten, or never began, weight training. The commitment to their future teams is admirable. Wanting to take advantage of summer mornings to not lose the conditioning of the previous seasons. Wanting to increase jump, reach, strength. All good. However, the pattern I wonder if they know about is the constant, small efforts that make improvements over time.

The dedication is to be here, to improve self, others. It’s early. The girls don’t need to be here. Many have summer jobs, home chores. They are young, healthy, lives ahead of them. Youth is a gift given for such a short period of time. There are other things they could be doing with their time. Dedication is something to be learned and youth is a great time to learn it.

Perhaps, and most likely, the 30 minutes in the gym are for reasons other than self improvement. Socialization, being a part of the crowd, wanting to be seen. Perhaps, but that’s o.k. The seed is being planted. We can’t become what we want to become without work and dedication. Up and down, clink, jump, jump, jump. Repetitive, maybe even boring, but not static. Small steps leading to stronger tomorrows. Time is up. Weights fall silent. The girls leave the room. Future teams are being built by individuals making small but steady progress. Future goals being worked towards by dedicated individuals. When they unite as teams, they will become stronger still.

“Dedication” - originally published in my "Love.Life.Politics" column of the Kemmerer Gazette, 2007.