The Red Hot Seat

“Memories are made up of spontaneous and planned moments.  They are shared times of laughter, sadness and surprise with those you love”, says South African author Mandi Hart.

Our end-of-the-year function on the 19^th of November was such a moment, where time stood still for a few hours and we reflected on 2019.  This year EVERYBODY was on time for our group photo, and it was quite a mission for Adele to capture this record-breaking group of 100 attendees in one photo!

But here we are:

Every year I’m simply amazed by the members’ creativity when it comes to dressing up according to our theme, and this year`s Incredible theme was no exception – they needed to come as someone or something that inspires them, and I definitely think next year there should be 20 best dressed prizes instead of 5. 

I think that is what Taylor Swift means when she sings “The rest of the world was black and white, but we were in screaming colour.” Except for our two nuns, of course…☺☺☺

 I’m so thankful for the opportunity I had once again to honour EACH member for their presence, for choosing Mirna’s Aerobic studio and for the part they have played this year in making our studio a world-class facility.  I know this Blog is widely read and I don’t want to bore you with every single member’s achievements, you’ll find that in our newsletter.

 Every year at our prize giving ceremony we praise the life-changing stories of our Challenge and Year Challenge members, and every year they are confirmation enough that storybook endings don’t only happen in novels and movies.  But not only them, there are the success stories of our biggest loser, Michelle, who dropped a blasting 15,6kg in 2019, there are our survivors of the year, Mari and Martie, our members of the year, Marie and Carien, newcomers of the year, Elizabeth, Nicole and Marzanne, our 5am members of the year, Gosia and Helga, our 7:30 members, Annebie and Helen, our 17:15 member, Grace, etc etc etc…With every single certificate, medal and prize awarded I simply would like to say – thank you for chasing your dreams straight to the top into a sky that has no limits…

 …I wish I had captured the entire evening on film, with that wonderful sea of friendly, happy, content faces before me.  I just knew that I felt exactly like famous author Jeff Lindsay who once said: “The key to a happy life is to have accomplishments to be proud of and purpose to look forward to, and at that moment I had both. How wonderful it was to be me.”

But then something very weird happened…You know, I’m used to the idea that every year, at the end of our ceremony, one of my members walks up to the stage to thank me on behalf of everyone, but I was caught totally off guard by what happened next…My studio’s red chair was dragged right onto the middle of the floor, and I was urged to sit down, with a bright spotlight shining right onto my face.

And that yanked me right out of my comfort zone.  See, I don’t mind being the centre of attention on my stage, playing my part as instructor and gym owner.  I love it when my kids play the fool with me, I have no problem telling jokes and being in the spotlight on stage, but in real life being the centre of attention is really not for me…But there I was, in the hot seat, with Rethia asking everyone to settle down for 10 minutes, and saying “ready, camera, action…” as if we were on Ellen’s or Oprah’s live show…

And the weirdest thing is, the whole studio, everybody, went quiet, you could hear a pin drop.  Afterwards I was thinking about the ten minutes I had with Nataniël earlier this year, and how he had answered every question straight-faced and confident and funny as if he had weeks to prepare for the conversation…

“Why did everyone go so quiet on me?”, I asked Mari afterwards.  “It’s because they really, really wanted to know what you had to say”, she said.  So this is what I did this morning at 5am…I read through a few of those questions of Rethia once more, and decided to answer them again, this time, in writing…

WHAT MAKES YOU EXTREMELY HAPPY?

There are obviously a number of things – Seeing Eswee and Mariné, there at Domestic Arrivals at Oliver Thambo Airport after a long term or getting a “Lief vir mams”-WhatsApp in the middle of the week.  Music always makes me happy, especially when it puts a smile on someone`s face in class.  And spending a restful Sunday at home with Schalk, that`s my cherry on top.

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?

The thought that my mum never had the opportunity to meet my kids…She always said she was going to be this rebellious grandma with a red sportscar who would be up to mischief with her grandchildren all the time…Obviously I know she was joking – it breaks my heart that she had passed away only a week after knowing that I was expecting my first-born…

DO YOU HAVE A BUCKET LIST?

It may sound stupid, but I don`t…Maybe it`s the fact that my mom died at the young age of 55.  I turn 53 this week, I think I just feel blessed to be healthy and fit and able to teach 16 fitness classes per week.  I don`t think too far ahead, I enjoy the moment and the Grace of each day, but the two thing I really would love to do is write that book everyone is constantly nagging me about… And visit Wimbledon.

WHAT IN YOUR MEMBERS INSPIRES YOU?

The fact that they believe in what we do, and that they exercise so diligently, week in and week out, winter and summer.  The fact that they pitch in colourful costumes at our functions, that they don`t mind posing in our workout videos.  The fact that they chase their goals, constantly, even at times when they face difficult personal challenges… My members are my greatest inspiration, because, without their presence, my efforts would be nothing…

WHAT MAKES YOU FURIOUS, INSTANTLY?

Speed cops, and people who don`t say thank you, because I firmly believe that a sincere word of thanks is nothing but an extension of a generous self.

…To every member who attended our end-of-the-year-function, a special thank you for those 10 “hot” minutes in the red chair.  Thank you for giving me your undivided attention – it was a moment I will never forget…

Isn’t it just wonderful to know that behind us are memories, beside us are friends and before us, are dreams…

LIFE IS SHORT, LIVE IT. LOVE IS RARE, GRAB IT. ANGER IS BAD, DUMP IT. FEAR IS AWFUL, FACE IT. MEMORIES ARE SWEET, CHERISH IT. 

I will.

Yours in fitness

Mirna

082 779 0607

PS…A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPONSORS OF OUR END OF THE YEAR FUNCTION:  PATRICIA MBATHA FROM THAKHU CATERING, KWANTUM MAKELAARS, HANNES ZWARTS OOGKUNDIGES, ERMELO DENTAL CARE, MIZPAH BEAUTY, ELSE-MARIE SKOONHEIDSALON, C-BEAUTY, BURLEC, HIGVELD OFFICE SUPPLIES, KARDRU COLLECTIONS, AVON AND MIRNA’S AEROBIC STUDIO.