Surprise pat on the back
Have you ever heard of the “5 Love Languages” from Gary Chapman?
Without getting into it too much, basically it’s this idea that everyone has a primary “love language” or a way they most like to feel love from others. The five languages include:
- Words of affirmation
- Receiving gifts
- Acts of service
- Quality time
- Physical touch
It’s an enlightening way to look at how you show love and accept it from others. If you are interested in learning more, just buy the book.
I bring this up, because I think your love language crosses over into all of your relationships, whether that be family, friends or work.
Without a doubt, my love language is “Words of affirmation.” I express my love through words and feel loved by receiving kind words.
The most rewarding thing for me is to have someone give me a real compliment about something realistic. “I like your top” or “thanks for shopping” are not the type of empty words that are meaningful to me, rather original thoughts on why I’ve done something right.
Pat on the back
Yesterday, I received a little recognition from my manager at 24 Hour Fitness, who leads all of the group fitness instructors around my area.
And she spoke to me in my very own love language.
It couldn’t have come at a better time. I had a particularly tiring and hard week. In addition to being back to work full time in my public relations role, I taught a big class-load and did extra preparing each night after I got home from work to get ready for yesterday’s quarterly special event re-launch, in which we taught the brand new Les Mills BODYATTACK 83.
I’ve been struggling a bit to get back into the swing of things since the holidays. I’ve been super busy, tired, and I returned to San Francisco feeling like I needed a vacation after all the fun and go-go-go of the Florida visit.
Then I showed up here …
Re-launch day
I walked into the gym yesterday wearing my special launch outfit, feeling a bit nervous, but ready to team teach the challenging new release. The 10 a.m. class filled up with more members than usual and the energy was high. When my manager said she wanted to do a class introduction, I had no idea it would be about me.
She thanked me being a rockstar instructor, for subbing classes to help out the team, showing up with energy to all of my own classes, and pushing myself to continue to get better, citing my work and experience attending Les Mills Advanced Instructor Module 2 and becoming an Advanced Instructor for BODYPUMP.
Even though she only spoke for about a minute, it was so wonderful. The class listened as a captive audience and even gave me a round of applause. Not to mention, I received a brand new shiny 24 Hour Fitness microphone belt (to hold the mic pack when I teach) as a gift. (Something all you “Receiving gifts” people would have called out as the highlight of the day.)
Words of affirmation, my friends.
After she completed the moment, I took over the mic and began teaching the class, introducing the members to the brand new 3-D BODYATTACK warm-up. It was a fun and challenging hour, made even better by the simple words that started it out.
I felt the love.