"GRUNTING"

I was flipping channels the other afternoon and came across one of the court room programs; not that those mindless programs are in the least entertaining, but the subject caught my attention and brought back some past memories as well as some recent ones. What was so interesting about this was that the plaintiff was suing the defendant for grunting. My first thought was ONLY IN AMERICA! The defendant was rather well built gentleman who obviously was fully engaged in staying fit. The plaintiff, on the other hand notably was what I would call an attendee at the gym. The plaintiff was angry and offended that the defendant grunted while working out and was suing to prevent him vocalizing in the public. For me, the evidence was clear the one was committed to personal growth, fitness and willing to put forth the effort with the knowledge that he would gain for his effort. The other simply wanted to pleasant gym experience. Notably, the "grunter" was older than the "non-grunter".

My Dad and Mom both were "grunters"; both literally and metaphorically. I worked alongside my Dad quite a bit while he physically able. When he was in the garden using his hoe to weed he would grunt (in a small way). When he cut wood, he would grunt loud. I would stand and observe him working and I guess I "caught" the grunting thing. Mom on the other hand, she didn't grunt literally, but she did pour herself out daily to accomplish whatever it took to finish out her day. I guess I "caught " some her grunting ways too.

I see people all the time, and I occasionally hire one (unknowingly) that are like the plaintiff. They do not mind you working, pouring yourself into your job... but "please do not expect the same from me" is their attitude. In the court case, the plaintiff stated that the defendants grunting disturbed him and distracted him. I, for one, am inclined to think it shamed him. As it should!

I have very little patience with anyone who expects maximum benefit from minimal effort. I see this in our gym all the time. People who pay fees, hire trainers and simply "go through the motions" They, for some odd reason think that walking for 30 minutes at 3 miles per hour while socializing will bring great reward. Now, if you are elderly it probably will. If you are recovering from some health issue it just might. I am not talking about those kinds of things. I see perfectly healthy, but purely LAZY people there just passing the time. What a waste! I would venture a guess is that is how they live life too.

Just last week, I had a gentleman make fun of me to others in the gym for grunting. I usually have my I-Pod blasting and hear nothing from anyone. But, I was very into my routine and was giving a good effort and was going at a good pace. The guy was much like the plaintiff. He had come into the gym and gone to the tanning booth first. I had just completed about 15 sets of heavy lifting and was finishing with some shrugs, which were from my point and experience HEAVY. 230 pounds is heavy for me to do shrugs, especially 4 sets. I had noticed that the guy that when he came out of the tanning booth that he took a curling bar (35 lbs) and placed 5 lbs weights on each end. A whopping 45 lbs. While he was doing his curls I was completing my 3rd set of shrugs and my I-Pod came to the end of a song... so I had some silence when I heard him grunting and staring at me. His wife, who is as big as a barn started laughing too. I got a little angry for a moment. Then I realized that I have nothing to angry about. I thought of some sharp things that I could say too... but I didn't! We both get out of our workout what we put into it.

Grunting is more than making a noise. It is an expression of total commitment, of complete dedication, of a willingness to give yourself fully to a cause, a goal and job. It means that you are engaged... willing to exert yourself in order accomplish a task.

Our culture is in the process of perfecting the notion that "movement" means progress. NO SO! Expecting dramatic results while giving minimal effort is one way of defining insanity in my book.

You do not have to literally GRUNT... but going through the motions is a pathetic way to live life.