Death on Treadmill…Well, Almost

I’ve always enjoyed long strolls on long tree lined paths or streets. Yet, with the unpredictable weather here sometimes an indoor activity is as good as it gets. However, nothing could ever replace walking in the nature and enjoying the fresh air and the scenery, inhaling oxygen and the spring freshness. But the dull and boring treadmill and the little bit of insane and erratic elliptical will do for the time being. I think I have a built internal mechanism that prevents me from getting too excited and giving in to the frenzy of the external world. Although at times I have fallen into that trap and have caved into that mold to but I usually tend to revert back to my serene and calm state of mind. I remember the days when I worked in Manhattan, where I’d walk hurriedly through the city, zigzagging my way up and down the streets. I used to find waiting a few seconds for red lights the most dreadful waste of time. Yes, I have gotten caught up in the fast pace of life many times but I have always managed to get myself out of it, good or bad frantic and hyper life style is just not for me. I am more of a star gazing, feel the breeze, be and let be, look beneath the surface and be in the moment, rather than of the moment kind of person.

The other day I got on the treadmill as part of my daily routine. I usually set the speed on 3 out of ten; hook up my IPod to its stereo, listen to hip hop, pop and anything of high energy for about an hour. I find this hour of music and exercise very soothing and relaxing. This would give me, a diehard fan of Shajarian and Iranian classical music, a chance to listen to an array of music good for a disco or a dance club. Five minutes into my exercise I decided to raise the volume and pick up a little speed. Somehow, I must have pressed the wrong button and instead of increasing the volume of the music I increased the speed drastically. Quickly I realized the sudden change of pace from a level 3 to a 7, an absolute crazy modification. With my heart racing and my legs going at the speed of light under me (so it seemed), I tried to reverse the situation. However, my body had moved all the way to the end of the treadmill and I was just holding on to the end of the hand rails with my dear life. I thought of jumping off, but you know you can’t when the speed moves you one foot over the other. There has to be a way I said to myself, I’m too young to die anyway and of all places on a treadmill? It would be a tragically funny death. I could see the headline on the local news stand “Woman Dies on Treadmill.” No, this could not happen to me. By now five minutes have passed yet it felt like an eternity. The red emergency button seemed too far to pull, so in pick of fear and desperation before a massive heart attack or a sudden fall onto a fast moving equipment I gathered all my energy or whatever was left of it and threw myself forward on the display screen hitting the stop button repeatedly. It worked! As the machine slowed down to a complete stop, I caught my breath along with a sigh of relief. Saved by a stop button, I get to see another day!

If only we had a special stop button for huge mistakes we make in our lives too. We learn from our wrong mistakes and errors in judgment but a stop lever along the way could save us from the agony of enduring pain and suffering before it’s too late. If we could only push an imaginary red emergency button and stop the process of heading down a path of misery. How many times have we felt we have reached the end of our limits physically, emotionally, mentally and, these days, financially? But isn’t it exhilarating to resurface with a greater joy and a larger appreciation of life?