Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

Prologue:

Both my sisters and I have been working out at the same gym for almost 16 years. My one sister, Monica, and I meet twice a week and train with the greatest trainer two blonde girls could have. (We love you, John!)

 

Slowly, through the years, we’ve watched our gym sorta let itself go, and we suddenly found ourselves feeling a little empty after every workout.

This made me think. It made me think real hard. And, boy, when I start to think and those wheels in my head start to move…watch out!

And then it happened. I had an epiphany. The emptiness and discontent that had plagued me for so long was just my body speaking to me and telling me that things needed to change. I needed to listen.

I knew I needed to break up with my Gym.

Dear Gym,

The last 16 years that we’ve spent together have been wonderful…truly wonderful. We have shared so many milestones together.

 

You were there after the birth of all three of my children. You were there during my divorce. You’ve been around during countless break–ups and make-ups. You’ve provided a warm and loving atmosphere that was both nonjudgmental and embracing. We’ve had so many good times together. Many. We’ve also shared a trainer together, whom we both love and care about.

But, Gym…I must admit — the last few years have been difficult for me. I have found myself wanting to stray. You started letting yourself go, Gym…I mean really letting yourself go, and I found myself losing interest and not attracted to you anymore. I’m sorry, I know this must be painful and I really don’t want to hurt you. This time it’s you Gym, not me.

I tried not to look while other Gyms were being built, and I can honestly say with a full heart — I never cheated on you; not even once.

I didn’t want to fall into that stereotypical cliché that so many find themselves in. I didn’t want to leave my Gym for another Gym just because it was younger, newer and more vibrant. I hate to sound shallow, but I stopped feeling good when I was with you. My needs were no longer being met. I’m really not trying to “kvetch” (Yiddish for complain) but I felt like you were handing me scraps and I know I deserved more.

Part of the reason I’ve stayed this long was solely for the trainer we both share and care so much about. I would hope and pray that I could have visitation, but deep down I know you will gain full custody. I know he is better off with you and his happiness is important to me.

He should always know that we both love him — even if we are no longer together.

Gym, the reality is that while I believe in monogamy, it takes two people working together to make a relationship work. I have come to you, ready to sweat, pump and lunge, in order to stay in top shape. However, you have let yourself go. No longer do your mirrors reflect glistening bodies, but rather now only cast back the dull, lifeless cavern that now rests in place of what was once a top-notch facility. You have very few classes of interest to me, and most of my friends have left to go elsewhere. But you turned a blind eye, Gym, even though it was happening right in front of your face.

The truth is, you stopped caring about your own self. When you stopped caring about yourself, I found myself caring less and less about how I looked when we would see one another. Oftentimes, I would come to you wearing my 11-year-old daughter’s Junk Food t-shirts and not even showering before I arrived.

Embarrassingly enough, sometimes I didn’t even shave my legs before our workouts even though I was wearing workout capris. I’m actually a little ashamed that I fell into your depressive mentality.

Who is to blame for this, Gym? Sadly, you must now look into your dusty mirrors and find that answer for yourself.

When I spoke to you last year about how I felt, I didn’t think you really heard me.

It is important to really listen to your partner, Gym.

You and I can no longer be together because we are no longer on the same page. I want to look forward to spending time with a Gym that I love. I want to go through that honeymoon period where my heart flutters every time I pull into the parking lot. I want to wear brand-new Lululemon outfits and beam with pride while working out on the elliptical. I want to feel appreciated and loved. I want to think about my Gym first thing in the morning and last thing at night. I also need my Gym to keep itself up and be the best Gym it can be. These are important things to me in an exercise relationship.

I know that with any new romance, it takes time to feel comfortable. I realize that it will take time for the new Gym to know me as well as you did. I also understand that the grass isn’t always greener at a new Gym, and that’s why I would hope that if things don’t work out, that I could come back to you.

Thank you for the years we’ve shared. I will remember them fondly. I wish you only the very best in the future. If you ever get yourself back into shape, then I may reconsider coming back to you — but I won’t hold my breath. I know that exercise with your ex just isn’t a good idea!!!

 

Take care always, Gym!!!

 

Until next week…

 

Love,

Karin