Why the Y at 5?

Why the Y at 5:30 a.m.?

A thought provoking incident happened the other day. I was at my desk at the Perry Hall location when I received the first telephone call of the day. I answered the phone with the proper greeting including my name and the caller responded “Shelley, why do you get up at 5 in the morning to be at the Y?” I was a little taken back by the question, of course because this is not the usual type of question asked by callers.

When the call ended, I reflected on what was said and thought “Why do I get up so early in the morning to be at the Y”. When I started at the Y in September, I requested the morning hours because it fit my schedule really well. However, it got me to thinking-in a year or 2, would I still be motivated to work the morning shift? The answer I came up with was a resounding “YES”. My real motivation to work this shift is the members. To see faithful members come in each and every morning because they want to and because they love their workouts is an incredible experience! Believe it or not, they come in with smiles on their faces, ready for their workout and even a little morning chatter. I love encouraging them to come back in even when they don’t feel like it; however in the end, I think they are as much motivation for me as I am for them.

Posted by Shelley Drasal, Y Member Services Representative at the Perry Hall Family Center Y.