This story is literal proof that something good can come out of anything. 2012-I was at the gym, stretching my calves on one of the stairwells, and this guy ran past me. He turned around and said “hey, how’s it going?” I’m not quite sure what I said but my social graces are spot on, so I’m figuring it was appropriate. IT WAS A MOMENT. I was shaken up and I saw him shake his head. We both felt it. It was a few months before I saw him again, and in that time, I kept thinking about his sparkly eyes.

After learning that he was a frequent attender of the noon spin class, I decided to give it a try. I still remember my first class. My seat was way too low, and I was wearing a Boston Orioles baseball cap, strictly because I liked the bird on it. When he saw me, he was visibly shaken and that was when I knew it was a mutual moment that had haunted him as well. We stared at each other throughout class. I had never felt such a strong connection.

I became a regular in this spin class, making friends, but hating every minute of the workout. The stares evolved to saying hi and bye, and then he started following me out of class. He was boyishly charming. One day he got my number and we set up a date. I was so new to the dating scene, and therefor naive, and totally believed him when he said he might have to go pick up a bike and leave the date early. He established an out prior to the date and I totally believed him.

Note to self: get off of the tarmac if he is trying to clear his runway.

We went to a pub, where I learned more about him, including the fact he had a girlfriend. He shared that he had been trying to break up with her as he knew she wasn’t the one. When we left the pub, I grabbed matches and he started to, but then put them back. It hit me that he didn’t want proof of our date so I asked him if he lived with his girlfriend. It’s that intuitive hit where you just know. Yep.

I was so confused and again, naive. I kept believing him and almost feeling sorry for him that he was stuck in this situation and trying so hard to “clear the runway.” I wished and hoped for too long, and we eventually quit communication. I joined a different gym, where I ended up making incredible friendships, truly fell in love with cycle classes and yoga.

Had I not met him, would I have purchased a Peloton bike in November of 2019? He doesn’t get the credit, but I like finding some golden glimmer for that girl I was back then, who thought if I just said the right thing, looked the right way, maybe he will choose me. Had we ended up together, I wouldn’t have had all of these experiences this last decade. Made all of the friendships. I would have poured myself into his life as that was all I knew at that point. My journey of self-betterment may have still happened, but not at this magnitude. In addition to gratitude for things working out how they are meant to, how great and organic is it to just be in a stairwell at the gym, doing my own thing, and have a sparkly moment? That might be the main takeaway. You do you. The rest will follow. XO