As I walked into my first hot power yoga class at a trendy Brooklyn boutique studio at 5:23am, I noticed a woman up front wearing a matching hot pink Lululemon sports bra and crop pants doing crunches and push-ups… BEFORE the intense class began.

I caught myself asking if belonged in the class, or wondering if perhaps the workout was for me.  Which, of course, was silly.  Just because I was not the most intense person in the room didn’t mean that I should have left and gone home.

It makes sense, right?  Just because we are not the “best” at a particular hobby or interest doesn’t mean we don’t belong.

But how often do we tell ourselves exactly the opposite?

Just because you are not the next Derek Jeter doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy softball games on the weekends with friends.

And should we not try yoga if we can’t already touch our toes?

Should we not accept a friend’s invitation to try spin just because we won’t be the best in the class?

How about those veterans we watch with admiration, running marathons with only one of their original legs; should they just stay home because they won’t win first place?

Or course not!  So next time you hesitate to take that fitness class or to pursue that hobby just because you won’t be the best at it, do it anyway.   Remember to enjoy yourself and to not take yourself too seriously.  Because let’s be honest; it’s not like you are planning to win an Olympic gold medal!