One day last week, as is often the case, one of my co-workers was amiably teasing me about something. I don’t even remember what sparked it now, but when I teased back, he joked, “"Okay. Drop and give me 20 push-ups." I sneered, “"Ha! Twenty? I could drop and give you thirty!" Of course, a couple of them teamed up and started cackling, “"Ha ha! She thinks she could do 30 push-ups. What---can you do a few girl push-ups, Misty?"
"No! I do GUY push-ups!" I protested and turned to another colleague sitting at the front counter. "Hey!" I drew him into the argument, "Do you believe me? Do you think I can do 30 push-ups?"
He answered in his usual dry, neutral manner, “"Do I think you can do 30 push-ups....I'm not going to answer that."
"She can't do it; she's just talking big to us. I mean look at her huge muscles," my other two comrades snickered and elbowed each other. After enough taunting, I finished chewing up the piece of candy in my mouth, tucked my shirt in, kicked off my shoes, positioned myself on the floor, and set off on my mission.
"One-two-three," they began counting. When it got up to "eleven-twelve," one of them jokingly chimed in: "three-four." After about 17, they began groaning and implored, "Stop, Misty. Okay, Misty, that's enough. Don't do anymore! You're making us feel bad."
But no, they had provoked me enough, and I was determined. I kept going, reached number 30, then stood up, red-faced and victorious. “"Dang!" one of them exclaimed, among other mumbled comments. "Wow, I'm embarrassed. Gonna have to go down to my basement tonight to see if I can do any push-ups…. Girl, the guy you end up with better be tough!" (The thought of me ending up with a tough guy isn't a bad thought, by the way. I mean, …amazingly kind and thoughtful… and tough. That combination might encourage me to change my current single status.)
So....let me be honest now...occasionally being tougher than guys can feel pretty amazing. I always feel a little boost when I'm at the gym doing my thing, and some big man walks over and says,“"Hey, you're pretty strong for a little girl." The words and the workouts don't just make my muscles stronger, but makes me stronger inside. I start to think, "See, I am strong. I am tough. I'm capable. I can handle things. Whatever it is, I can do it."
Plus, I have found a new strategy to keep me motivated at the gym. I picture my co-workers' tantalizing faces over me saying, “"You can't do that! You can't lift those weights! You can't do that many reps! Are you crazy?!"
That's all I need. Then I do it.