I take kickboxing. Please don't laugh. I love it, though it must be comical to watch. Let's just say I sometimes envision myself as Lucy Liu (my high school nickname was Lulu) and leave it at that....
I mention kickboxing because my sensei, Paul Bowman, always answers the phone, even during class. And he always answers it the same way: "It's a great day at Tokyo Joe's! How can I help you?"
Although I usually hate it when I call a store and have to listen to a store employee recite a long blurb, there's something about his greeting that doesn't irritate me. Maybe it's because I've come to know a bit about Paul and his dream for his martial arts business. He really does feel that every day at Tokyo Joe's is a GREAT day at Tokyo Joe's. And somehow, you end up feeling that way, too.
If I call in, his little greeting makes me feel like everyone else is there jumping and kicking and yelling, and I'm not. Makes me want to run right down there and join in the fun. If I hear it while I'm punching the bag and he takes a call, it makes me feel like, dammit, I'm exhausted and dripping sweat, and when in God's name will I nail that crescent kick?? But YES, it IS a great day here at Tokyo Joe's!
Despite many setbacks and injuries and the indignities of hitting middle age, here I am, slugging it out with a bag. I've worked my way up slowly but surely, with a lot of whining along the way, but also with a lot of WINNING along the way. I win because I keep coming. I show up. I do what I can. It's not always my best, but it's not my worst, either. And I live again to try another day. Maybe I'm not Lucy Liu, but when I really nail that roundhouse kick to the stomach, I feel like I could PRETEND I'm her, just for one glorious moment.
Paul is hard at work at his dream. I hear that every time he answers the phone. It reminds me to work hard at mine.
How will YOU answer the phone today?
