Day 151

What are necessities?  Now, I know there are all kinds of  minimalists out there that manage to live very full lives with only a few possessions, like say a laptop computer, a spoon and a maybe a sarong. They probably get their exercise by running barefoot–year round–over hot coals (Does Tony Robbins advocate minimalism).  I’m a little less committed than that, my list of necessary items is a bit longer even during this year of buying nothing new.

Case in point

I still yearn for cute new workout clothes and fancy gadgets, which at one time, I did consider necessary to my athletic performance.

Remember getting new sneakers as a kid?    There was no doubt in my mind that those new kicks made me run like Carl Lewis (Am I dating myself?), dance like Janet Jackson and jump like, uh, someone really good at jumping.  My kids will put on a new pair of shoes and instantly start running around the store.  Why is that?  It’s like a hardwired response.  Prior to The Simple Year, I felt the same way about a really cute exercise ensemble.  The very act of tugging on the top made me stronger, more flexible and faster.   In reality, I’m sure I had the same athletic ability as the day prior, but maybe the placebo effect caused me to work a little harder in my new finery.

Perhaps the knowledge that there will be no new Lycra in my locker this year has heightened my awareness of an interesting phenomenon. There are all kinds of “specialty items” showing up for various athletic pursuits these days. I guess it’s not enough to sweat anymore, now you have to sweat appropriately accessorized.

The Zumba crowd all wear sashes or genie pants in bright colors reminiscent of my 80’s wardrobe often with bells dangling from them which you can’t hear over the Latino inspired music.

Anytime the doors open for a spin class a whole herd of people come clomping in wearing shoes with toe clips.  As I understand it, toe clips are to improve performance and decrease the likelihood that the cyclist will fall off into a ravine which really isn’t an issue indoors and “performance” can pretty much be regulated by that nasty red knob that controls the tension.

I often go to a combat class where a group of (mainly) women punch, kick and jab at unseen enemies and the instructor calls everyone “fighters”. It makes me feel strong and empowered, although in all honesty, my only actual fighting is with my kids to do their homework before TV.  Many of the women wear gloves even though they don’t actually come into contact with anything.

Gloves to fell imaginary enemies and keep ones manicure secure

I run a little.  In theory, I should just need shoes.  Although, I won’t leave the house without my IPod in its special neoprene case, my preferred water bottle and the correct pants, the ones that minimize my thighs from slapping together in time to the music on that IPod. All this  gear (gathered Before Simple Year)  and I still enviously followed a woman the other day wearing a specialized running jacket  with pockets designed for music and water. I should probably point out I followed her on a running trail, not because I was going to roll her for her clothes. She was smaller than me anyway, her clothes wouldn’t have fit.

I am working my way through it. But, I can’t help it, even though I know they are not really necessary maybe even superfluous, I still long for cycling shoes, fighter’s gloves and running jackets.

But definitely, not pants with bells