Posts  / #POST-229792
BLOG

A poem for the lady who sleeps at the gym

S
Jun 11, 2026 · 03:27

<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" href="https://unsplash.com/photos/a-person-lying-on-the-ground-iTjYlV2u-lA" target="_blank"><div class="image2-inset"><source type="image/webp" /><img alt="" class="sizing-normal" height="1161" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tqUX!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fee643872-5c7b-40d9-b47c-2cf2e1e45703_774x1161.avif" width="774" /><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image" tabindex="0" type="button"><svg fill="none" height="20" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="1.5" viewBox="0 0 20 20" width="20" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image" tabindex="0" type="button"><svg class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2" fill="none" height="20" stroke="currentColor" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="20" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p class="button-wrapper"><a class="button primary" href="https://bit.ly/Crux-Community"><span>JOIN FOR $8/YEAR</span></a></p><div class="pullquote"><p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>The views and opinions expressed here are solely my own and do not represent those of my employer, any affiliated organization, or any institution with which I am associated.</strong></em></p></div><p>I had hip surgery in May 2025 and was in physical therapy until December. Just when I thought I would get back to the gym, I injured my foot and had another surgery to close out 2025. On top of that, my shoulder started giving me trouble and I thought I had torn my rotator cuff. I discovered after an MRI that there&#8217;s just a lot of inflammation and that whatever &#8220;tendonosis&#8221; &#8211; I have it, and I would be seeing the amazing people at Reddy Care Physical Therapy likely until June. I just finished up &#8211; not because I was done but because I was out of insured sessions. . Now, I am at the gym a lot more. </p><p>One of the things I used regularly in PT was the arm bike and it worked wonders. So, I set out to find a gym that had an elliptical machine (my hip) and an arm bike (my shoulder). Fortunately, I found one. So far I have been twice and I found my machines and a potential routine. I also found a lady. And this poem is for her. </p><div><hr /></div><blockquote><div class="digest-post-embed"></div><p><em><strong>A NOTE ABOUT MY WORK</strong>: I am leaving my full-time job with InterVarsity USA and with that change, paid subscribers become much more important. I love to write and the DREAM would be for this to be a full-time occupation. If you&#8217;d like to make that more possible, please become a paid subscriber. My new work will be with<a href="https://bit.ly/Support-CBR-ArochaUSA"> AROCHA USA // Center for Beauty and Resistance</a>. If you <a href="https://bit.ly/Support-CBR-ArochaUSA">DONATE</a> you will be made a founding member here. Thanks for your prayers, support and generosity.</em></p></blockquote>
<p>
<a href="https://thecrux.substack.com/p/a-poem-for-the-lady-who-sleeps-at-916">
Read more
</a>
</p>