Thursday September 8 2016  NOT A COMPLAINT…JUST THE WAY I FEEL

The small gym where I workout has never blared music over loud speakers.  Most people exercising have headsets on listening to whatever they choose to hear through iPods or iPhones.  Some plug into personal televisions on their exercise machines.  A few seem to like the quiet (if you can call a gym “quiet”).  Actually our gym has amazing, amplifying acoustics.  It magnifies all sound, be it an exertion grunt, a sneeze, weights clattering to the floor, and as we found out today, piped in radio music as well.  We considered everything hunky-dory at the Princeton Club until Dave and I went to the gym today and found that the owner has issued a new rule that managers must now pipe in radio music (with poor quality speakers) 24/7.  IT WAS AWFUL!  And it wouldn’t have made a difference if I had even liked the station.  The acoustics is not conducive to radio speakers.  I had to turn my iPhone to the loudest volume and still the minister’s words were somewhat obscured.  One of the reasons I so enjoy working out is because I can use my time there to listen to sermons on my iPhone broadcast from www.southlandchristian.org   I discussed the radio noise dilemma with the manager but he informed me his hands were tied and he had to follow the new rule from the head guy.  Well, we don’t have to rejoin when our time expires.  Surely, there is some gym, somewhere, that doesn’t force their paying customers to listen to music they do not enjoy!  Unless the music is discontinued I don’t know if we will be rejoining the PRINCETON CLUB EXPRESS IN FITCHBURG when our membership expires.  There wasn’t one person that I spoke with today at the gym that wanted that music to continue.  There were a lot of disgruntled customers! 

It certainly is a good thing that this didn’t happen in July.  If you remember, mine and Dave’s challenge in July was to not complain about anything.  Well, it worked, we both did a good job and have become more cognizant of when we might be aware that a complaint is surfacing, so we rephrase it as a statement of fact (or opinion) when we catch ourselves. Last month we practiced giving more in ways of kindness and courtesy toward others, as well as giving in other ways.  This month we are taking a break from a new challenge and continue the practice of what we have already disciplined ourselves to do.  I must admit, I really do not like to complain, but sometimes having your voice heard is not so much a complaint as it is educating someone else when they are making such a horrific bumble! (My opinion.)  I’m just going to have to have a talk with Mr. Head Guy!

 

NOT A COMPLAINT…JUST THE WAY I FEEL

By Kathleen Martens

September 8 2016

 

When my peace is shattered

By loud garbled sound,

It’s not very fun

To stick around.

 

I love the quiet

So I can choose

What I desire to hear

And my hours not lose.

 

During my time of exercise,

Listening to my choice

Was like a vacation

From clamoring noise.

 

Sweet quiet music

Or a talking voice

Makes it so much easier

To keep my poise.

 

I already dread

Tomorrow’s return

To the Princeton Club

Where I try to learn.

 

I listen to speeches

Of things I choose to hear,

And if that radio continues

I will shed some tears.

 

The world is so noisy

Why add more garble?

The sound of that radio

It’s really quite horrible!

 

So Please Mr. “Head Guy”

Show some compassion

Or The Princeton Express

May soon be out of fashion!

 

God, perhaps I need to ask forgiveness for my “grumbling heart”.  If I do I thank You for Your forgiveness.

Thank You that You give me grace and mercy.

Thank You for the times of silence so I can enjoy Your presence.

Thank You for loving me.

And thank You that I can hear.

 

Thank You readers if you read down to this line.  I guess I did a bit of venting on my blog.  But it really was pretty awful at the gym today.  I don’t go back again until Saturday.  I wonder if the music will still be playing.  Oh, I hope not.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU.