18 Comments
May 18, 2023Liked by Richard Goodman

Well. The head is yours, you decide. (smile)

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May 18, 2023Liked by Richard Goodman

So glad I pushed the button for “let me suggest this post” after reading The veiled lady and the bird man. I couldn’t help but giggle while reading. So, now you know how it feels to “feel heroic.” I suppose there will be another story about how your next session went?

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author

Next session? Ha ha.

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Why "ha-ha?" Isn't it great to feel heroic? (smile)

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Yes, but don't want it to go to my head!

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Richard, you summed it up so well. Making yourself feel like a hero. My "smart watch" is doing the encouragement in basic English: "Good job, you walk 3 miles today. Go for walk again soon."

Une bonne lecture du matin!

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author

Haha. That is funny, Olivier! Feeling approval from a watch! Glad you liked it.

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Oct 7, 2022·edited Oct 7, 2022

Hahah! So funny and so sweet. We're all little boys and little girls inside (some more than others?).

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Glad you liked it, Christine. I was about to write you an e-mail.

And, yes, very much little boy inside.

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Imagine the role-reversal. You said he went to UNO. He could have been your student, coming home to his girlfriend after class, clutching his annotated essay, hero of his own story. "My professor said..." :)

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That would be a trip, wouldn't it?

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Thank you Richard. Well done. Nice story. Reminds me of Park Place where we used to play squash - always a good workout. You felt great afterwards. Almost like a hero !

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Merci, cher Philippe. I miss squash!

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Make it an hour fifteen. It's pretty crappy outside, perfect day for a long nap.

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This makes me want to lie down for a nap. But thanks for letting me live vicariously through you. I feel in better shape already.

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author

I'll wake you in an hour, Charles.

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founding

Very funny, and very relatable. I've noted the approval-seeking tendency in myself, in Pilates classes and in fitness classes in general: a longing to please teachers, no matter what the subject matter is, that stretches back to nursery school. (My parents were both teachers. Could there be a connection? Nah!)

And it's funny how far a little positive reinforcement goes, even with us fully formed senior adults. My own personal trainer, now a personal friend as well, with whom I've been working out for six years, told me recently, "You have a good butt, but we need to firm it." I basically tuned out the second half of that comment and zeroed in on the first. I have a good butt! Me! Who knew?

Thanks again for a great post. I can see the NY Times publishing it in their Tuesday health & science section. Please consider submitting it!

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author

Laura, this is hilarious! It's so funny how susceptible we are! I really appreciate what you say about the Times. I think once it's up on the Internet, in however a narrow forum, they won't take it. But I love that you say I should submit it. About your butt, I leave that to Joe to comment.

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