Feeling Accepted!!!

Berhane: The Best Trainer in the World for So Many Reaons!

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.
You wanna go where people know,
people are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows
your name.

Lyrics for theme song from Cheers, the televsion show!

Yesterday was such a beautiful day, and since I got off at 1:30, I decided that I would go for a run. I ran two miles from my house and ended up, on purpose, at the exercise studio that is owned by non other than The Best Trainer in the Entire World, Berhane!

Yep, I stopped on purpose for two reasons: 1) Berhane sure knows how to make people feel welcomed and accepted, and 2) It was hotter than I thought, and I needed water.

So, I was crossing the street to go to the studio, and I heard someone calling my name, and it was Berhane with this huge smile on his face. It was apparent that he was happy to see me!!!! (There's nothing like feeling accepted.)

We went into the studio and had our regular talk about diet, exercise, my dating life etc.

He suggested that while I was there, I might as well work on my back and shoulders and then run back home. I didn't want to, but I worked on my back and shoulders while he checked and responded to emails, ate his lunch etc.

After working on my back and shoulders, I ran home feeling content.

What was that content feeling about?

The content feeling was about just finishing a good four mile run and feeling accepted.

Berhane never makes his clients feel that he is too busy for us. Everyone who comes to workout with him feels the acceptance. I watch him as I am leaving and other clients are coming in, and he has this look like "I am so happy that you are here, and you are the only person in the room."

Of course I see him regularly, because I love the workouts, but I also see him regularly because he is warm and sincere and makes me and everyone else feel accepted: not judged, accepted.

Don't all human beings desire to feel accepted? Don't we go to our favorite places all of the time, because we feel accepted. I go to the same Dunkin Donuts once a week, the same cashier at Trader Joes, the same omelet maker at Whole Foods, the same waiter at Busboy and Poet's, the same running and biking group week after week, because I feel accepted.

So, today, and everyday, let's work together to make people feel accepted!

On my mental ipod I am listening to the Cheers theme song: