Aaahh Freak Out!

You might think this is an unusual name for an entry, but wait . . . let me explain.

A group of gals I walk and hike with everyday bought snowshoes for this winter, thinking that we could stay off the icy streets and continue to explore the many woodsy trails and hills in our little mountain town throughout the winter months. Which for Utah, can be loooonnngggg. We actually have been out using them several times now, and it's really great fun and exercise.



On this particular day, only the "fit" showed up to go off exploring the hills, with the exception of myself. For some reason these gals think I can keep up with them. One is like 10 years younger than me (here I should probably inject a reminder that I am no longer a "spring chicken"), they have like personal trainers, and fitness coaches, and well . . . you get the picture.

So we set off, tramping through the snow, and it is gorgeous. We had like 6 inches of new snow, and it was just the right texture, soft and cushy under your feet, with a little bit of a crust just below the new snow. I actually did really well for quite a while, but pretty soon going up those hills, I thought I WAS GONNA DIE! Seriously, my heart started pounding . . . "oh wait", "was that a little bit of chest pain", "should I stop", "should I say something?" "I'm such a wimp!"





Then I remembered an old trick from my ski bum days in college. I had a ski friend that taught me this trick to help me learn to ski the mogels. "It's all in the rhythm", he said. "You gotta have a favorite song in your head, one with a good beat, something that will motiviate you to make those turns with a regular rhythm and just keep heading in the right direction". So, at the time, being a "disco" fan, (remember the "spring chicken" thing, I went to high school in the 70's - ha ha!) my "ski the mogels really good song" was Le Freak by Chic. Is there anyone else who has even HEARD of that song?

And much to my amazement, it REALLY worked. You think the song in your head, and turn on every beat - and next thing you know you're skiing down the mogul hill!

Well, I seriously don't ski mogul hills anymore, in fact I really don't get out skiing nearly as much as I'd like. But I have had occasion over the years to put that same song to use. My snowshoeing, thought I was gonna die, was one of those times. I started humming the words to the song under my breath -

Have you heard about the new dance craze?
Listen to us, I'm sure you'll be amazed
Big fun to be had by everyone
It's up to you, It surely can be done
Young and old are doing it, I'm told
Just one try, and you too will be sold
It's called Le Freak! They're doing it night and day
Allow us, we'll show you the way

Chorus:
Aaahh Freak out!
Le Freak, C'est Chic
Freak out!
Aaahh Freak out!
Le Freak, C'est Chic
Freak out!
Aaahh Freak out!
Le Freak, C'est Chic
Freak out!
Aaahh Freak out!
Le Freak, C'est Chic
Freak out!

Well, I won't torture you with any more of the horrible lyrics . . . but once more, it worked like a charm. It took my mind off the hills in front of me, got my stride in sync and I actually had a really great workout. I think I must have just imagined the chest pain after all :)

So the moral of the story is . . . if you need just that extra boost, just a little motivation to complete whatever task you have that seems insurmountable - don't FREAK out. Just think of a favorite song (preferable something with a beat) and off you go - I hope it works as good for you as it does for me!