The happiness of NOT having to run laps -- and the happiness of going for a run.
Here I am in Kansas City. My parents moved a few years ago, and now they live in an apartment building that happens to overlook my former school.
I have a great view of the playground where I played Four Square in fourth and fifth grade, my seventh-grade classroom, my ninth-grade chemistry lab, and the playing fields, around which I ran innumerable glum laps during high school.
Ah, the happiness of looking at those fields and knowing that never again will I be required to run around them! I get a little jolt of satisfaction every time I look out the window.
Here’s the irony, though: across the street from my former school is a park. Just this morning I went for a run, twice around the park.
Such is the difference between compulsion and free will, and between being a kid and being an adult.
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If you emailed me to ask for a chart or to offer a subtitle suggestion, you haven't heard back from me because I can't email OUT here in Kansas City. I'll respond as soon as I get back to my desk.
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I completely agree with you about having to do something and wanting to. When I was a kid I was forced to eat salads and I hated it. Now that I'm an adult I love eating salad for lunch. I think what you're saying applies in many different ways.
Posted by: Jackie | August 27, 2007 at 09:21 AM
Ah ... life was so much simpler then!
Posted by: David B. Bohl at SlowDownFAST.com | August 27, 2007 at 01:00 PM
Your writing style always puts a smile on my face. Keep up the great work here, Gretchen.
Posted by: Modern Worker | August 27, 2007 at 03:59 PM
Gretchen -
I ran across this article that I thought you'd appreciate.
http://space.businessballs.com/index.asp?bawl=222&NAV=5
-kevin
http://www.21st-century-citizen.com
Posted by: Kevin | August 27, 2007 at 04:32 PM
What a great post. I think gym class ruins many people for athletics or exercise later in life. It took me until my 30s to shake of the memories of forced runs, dodge-ball, and sadistic jocks from gym class.
Posted by: Marc | August 27, 2007 at 10:00 PM
I love Loose Park; one of my favorites in KC! I'm assuming that's the park you're referring to...
Posted by: Chris | August 28, 2007 at 12:20 PM
Yes, Loose Park! So beautiful now, so much nicer than when I was growing up.
I do think gym class can be a discouragement for a lot of people. I was in college before I realized that I like EXERCISE; what I don't like is athletic games, because I'm not a great athlete. It's no fun to feel awkward, but it's fun to feel in shape.
Posted by: Gretchen Rubin | August 28, 2007 at 02:49 PM
I totally agree with your article.
In my country, many student were forced to cut their hair short. At that time, I wanted to have long hair, but now, I have very short hair. :-)
Posted by: gillian2 | August 28, 2007 at 03:13 PM
I felt the same way about reading. I always felt forced to read during school, especially during college. But after I graduated, I couldn't believe how much I actually enjoyed reading now that I had a choice to read whatever I wanted. I now read every day!!
Posted by: Elsa | August 30, 2007 at 12:14 AM
This is how I feel about piano.
I used to love it very much. My mother then sent me to a teacher who forced me to play competitively. She yelled at me all the time when it is a bit less than perfect. Completely drained the joy out of it. I stopped playing and the piano at home slowly turned into a dumping ground for books.
In college, I actually took piano classes. I bought a small keyboard that I now play several times a week. It's a lot more fun under free will.
Posted by: adora | September 03, 2007 at 02:34 PM