After a weekend spent mostly indoors the dogs and I were anxious to get outside today and up in the mountains. It’s winter here in Salt Lake City, Ut, so as usual, a disgusting layer of pollution has settled in the valley and we haven’t really seen sun or blue sky in a few days. Fresh air and a space for the dogs to run around was just what we needed.

It was perfect. The temperature was just right, the sky was beautiful, the sun warm. I am the type of person who will listen to music pretty much any chance I get (sadly, much of it is the always the same). So instead of listening the crunch crunch of my feet on the snow I listened to Odesza and let their beats inspire me as I hoofed it up the trail, the dogs ahead of me, rolling in the snow and acting like puppies.

It is during these times that I try to brainstorm new ideas for my business and blogs. Sometimes I follow through with them, sometimes I don’t, but either way, I love how active my mind is when I’m up in nature.

I was thinking of the new cycling studio I’ve been checking out this week and how I want to do a side-by-side review of it and the other studio I have been going to since the summer and love so much. I kept wondering, who would read it? Who would care? Well, I would care, because I enjoy writing. And my friends who look to me for new classes and advice would care. And the handful of people who read my musings would care. And the studio who wins my review might care…

While I was pondering all this I started thinking about the free class I attended this morning at the new studio. (Opening week, free classes, and I can’t say no to a deal!) I went to a class yesterday and formed my initial opinion, and decided I had to go the whole week and try different instructors to really give a well-rounded review.

Anywho…I digress (but look for my review next week!)

The gal who was on the bike next to me was a “woo-hoo” girl. What is that you might ask? A “woo-hoo” (WH from here on) is the type of girl who cheers for everything. They ARE cheerleaders, they are vibrant, they are lively, they are group fitness instructors. They are the ones that are there to get you excited, pump you up, motivate you. They are the girls who laugh loudly and don’t care who hears them. They are the girls that get the attention, because you can’t not pay attention to them when they dominate a room.

Some call them inspirational. I imagine this girl was placed in the class (she might even be an instructor there, I wouldn’t be surprised) to pump everyone up about the new studio and the early morning class. There were several other WH-ers in the room, strategically placed, to rile everyone up.

Some people may like that. And that is OK. I get it. There needs to be those people at sporting events, competitions, and yes, group fitness classes.

But I am not a WH girl. I never have been. I am a silent determination girl. I go to these cycling classes and I love them. I love the sweat, the music, the dancing on the bike. I love competing with my neighbor, whether they know we are racing or not. I love watching the instructor, seeing how well they keep the rhythm, how they move. I love looking around the class and seeing people ride to the beat. It’s invigorating on it’s own without some randomly yelling next to me. When the instructor asks us to cheer, sure, let’s cheer. I guess I just don’t understand the cheering on your own.

Maybe it’s because I follow the rules. And until I’m told it’s time to cheer, I see no need to cheer.

In life, many times, I have been told I look angry, sad, mad, depressed. Oftentimes, I am simply thinking, observing, and planning. In spin class I am thinking about whether I am keeping the beat, I am thinking about what the rest of my day looks like, I am wondering if I am challenging myself enough. In regular life, I am thinking about my next post for social media to help grow my business. I am looking at people, making up stories about their lives. I am contemplative. I don’t like the idea that we have to be cheering all the time for people to think we are enjoying something.

This post is for the other silent determination girls out there. This is for the observers, the watchers, the ones who don’t need to be cheerleaders to enjoy your life. I am with you, quietly listening to the "Woo-Hoo” girls together, wishing they’d settle down, but also wishing I was a little less insecure about being loud and vibrant.

Which brings up another topic I want to talk about soon, insecurity. Stay tuned.