Today (yesterday, technically, but this will post after midnight) was the Day Without a Woman strike event, and since I’m on break, I decided to strike from obligation and running errands. I also chose to engage in radical self-care, which meant doing stuff for myself without thinking for one minute about anybody else. (This included staying off social media for my own sanity.) I had planned to go to a local event, but I had already given my daughter permission to use the car and then I fell asleep before my friend got back to me about giving me a ride (and it turned out I had the wrong number anyway).
This morning, I went to the gym, and the water aerobics instructor is getting over a cold, so her voice was pretty low and she said talking was kind of hard for her–especially the projecting she usually does to teach the class. So, since all of us were regulars, we all took turns describing each of the motions we were doing, using the terms and language she usually does. Sometimes we would also add in our own little tidbits (e.g., one woman shouting “Don’t be a wimp!” when we were doing triceps).
The instructor said it was one of the best classes she ever had, and she was so glad we were there that day. She was especially pleased to know that we actually listened to her when she talked. She did say, though, that she was very happy she couldn’t hear what we were thinking during class given some of the ad libs we threw in.
The Englishist 
It would be interesting to have our students do something similar – giving instructions for transitions and typical, daily tasks. Glad you got a day for YOU!
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I’m here for ALL of this and radical self-care is the most important thing one can do for herself. Ever. Hope you had a great day!
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Wonderful story. Isn’t it something that you all knew what your instructor said– and could laugh about it in the process? I love that.
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I really enjoyed this piece! Love the ad-libs that were thrown in!
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How funny and how cool! That sounds like a lovely day, even the falling asleep part!
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I think letting the student be the teacher helps them embrace the material and builds confidence! Great post!
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So much of a woman’s day is running errands. What a great reason to strike and then do something for yourself. I love the image of many women getting physically strong together — stereotypically a man thing.
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Fun example of role reversal. Side note for later: I bet those asides you mention would make a fine slice of their own!
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