The famous Irish poet Oscar Wilde once said: “Spontaneity is a meticulously prepared act…”
When something is done impromptu, according to the dictionary, it`s done without being planned, organized, or rehearsed. Impromptu, to me, has always been one of the most beautiful words in the English vocabulary. And yet, it`s not something that`s really part of my lifestyle – maybe it`s because of my many responsibilities at the studio. I am responsible for opening the studio every morning at 4.45, and I am the one who has to lock up every evening, unless I`m sometimes spoiled by Edrei and Rethia on a Thursday evening.
But, I still love impromptu moments – most of my fitness events so far have been planned in the spur of the moment, and poor Mari has time and again been put under pressure to quickly design a cover photo or advertisement for such an occasion. On Friday morning Liezel, Ina and Corné made an impromptu decision to come to step class and we even had time for a coffee together before the class started.
I just realized how much truth there is in Andrew Weil`s book “Spontaneous Happiness” when he says: “As children we are spontaneous, we have routines, but we also have imagination, time is a mystery, and we are always seeking the unknown. This enables us to truly explore the world. As adults, however, we have everything planned. We think we know what to expect from the world around us, how we ‘should’ respond to events and what to feel about projected outcomes and opportunities.”
When Eswee and Mariné were in grades 11 and 10, we had the privilege of visiting the Greek Isles. I remember that one of our fondest memories of that holiday, was an impromptu moment…One afternoon we were admiring the view from the impressive cliffs at Oia in the breath-taking Santorini, when we saw people diving from a cliff, kilometres away, and we decided there and then to find that spot.
We drove to Amoudi Bay and then started to walk. At the bottom of the winding, rocky pathway, we took a left through the seafood restaurants, and walked for a long time not knowing if we were on the right track. And just as we were about to turn back, we reached the black rocks and there it was – the jumping point, and the most beautiful, secluded tiny island, just a short swim away…
In that moment I was reminded of Richard Aldington`s words from his book “Death of a hero”: “Adventure is allowing the unexpected to happen to you. Exploration is experiencing what you have not experienced before. How can there be any adventure, any exploration, if you let somebody else – above all, a travel bureau – arrange everything before-hand?”
Impromptu decisions sometimes lead to amazing discoveries. Did you know that in Disney`s movie Aladdin, Robin Williams did have a script but rarely stuck to it? To this day, it`s known as one of the most incredible vocal sessions ever. And did you know that the famous line from the movie “Titanic” was invented right there, in that moment? Leonardo DiCaprio relates how he was in a crane basket, and they were losing the light, and nothing was really working when the director suddenly said: “Just say, I`m the king of the world…” And that was it!”
(Sorry for the interruption, but if you`re a Challenge member, please WhatsApp the phrase “I’m saying Yes to life in week 3” before 20.00…)
…And did you know that artificial sweetener was invented in an impromptu moment? In 1979 Constantin Fahlberg came home to dinner after a full day`s work in the lab developing coal tar derivatives. He took one bite of a dinner roll his wife made and noticed how sweet it tasted. Fahlberg realized it had to be the chemicals on his hands that caused the deliciousness, and the rest is history.
I`m not encouraging you not to wash your hands before dinner, or not to live up to the responsibilities of each day, I`m simply saying that sometimes an impromptu moment is a way out of the “approval/disapproval system” that blocks our authentic experience of ourselves and each other. Impromptu decisions open us to our own aliveness, sometimes even in the smallest moments.
Let me explain this with another example: Psychiatrist Jonathan Moreno relates how a patient, “Ellie”, sat in the therapy chair across from him and repeated things she had said many times before. “I`m not good enough.” “I’m not smart enough.” “I feel hopeless.” The energy was draining from the room. They were both stifling yawns. Ellie wanted change. She felt trapped.
Out of the blue, in the spur of the moment, Jonathan Moreno threw a light-blinking rubber ball at her as she was talking. For the first time in months, she said something new. “What the…!” Then she laughed. And threw it back to him. So, Moreno threw the ball back at Ellie while he said: “Once upon a time there lived a woman named Ellie.” She threw the ball back and said: “She died an old woman with regret in her belly. They both laughed…
Something in the room had changed. Something in Ellie had changed. That simple impromptu, playful gesture of throwing a ball had given her hope, the possibility of reinventing herself and making change. And it all comes down to saying “yes.”
A few weeks ago, In Utah, Salt Lake City, the video of a hospital employee named Teva Martinson became viral…In the video, Martinson, 21, is seen happily kicking of his crocs and giving a sweet impromptu dance in the lobby of the hospital. “Can you imagine the emotional healing this did for just those moments as people walked by”, a commentator wrote.
You and I, we get rubber balls thrown at us every day, sometimes it feels more like bricks we need to catch before they break our skulls. Maybe we need to tune into our improv, impromptu skills just a little bit more, and just keep on saying “yes”.
Just like Liezel, Ina and Corné saying “yes” to step class on Friday, “yes” can help me and you to handle what comes our way with grace and acceptance. Car accident, yes, and lucky you`re alive! The worst stomach virus of your life so far, yes, and you got the cheapest cleanse on the market. Forgot to sign in for Summer Challenge two days in a row? Yes, and you still have 7 more weeks to catch up.
In her book “Change of heart” Jodi Picoult says: “In the space between yes and no, there is a lifetime. It’s the difference between the path you walk and one you leave behind; it’s the gap between who you thought you could be and who you really are; it’s the legroom for the lies you will tell yourself in the future.”
Can I toss you the blinking ball right now? Yes? Are you ready?
Yours in fitness
Mirna
082 779 0507
PS: Because of an impromptu visit to Mariné in Stellenbosch next weekend, there won’t be a Blog