Priorities or Excuses?

My gym trainer surprised us with a challenge: show up for a bonus class at 5:45am on Sunday.

I accepted. So when I returned for my regular 9:10am class that morning, I was feeling more alert than usual.

As I waited to enter the studio, I overheard someone behind me explaining their absence: “If there’s going to be a 5:45am class, we should get more notice. I didn’t get home from a wedding until 1:30am. I’ve made a pledge to prioritize my sleep this year…” and so on.

Having set my own alarm for that early class, I noticed my reaction shift as I listened. What started as a reasonable explanation began to sound more like an excuse.

Here’s the thing: it was a bonus class. No one was obligated to attend. There are countless valid reasons why a 5:45am class might not be a priority - or even a possibility - for someone. But the people who did show up chose to sacrifice whatever they would normally be doing at that time.

The difference between their choice and this person’s wasn’t the validity of their reasons. It was simply the choice itself.

My takeaway: any justification I make for something I haven’t done will sound like an excuse to someone who did. If I’m already drafting my defense, maybe I need to rethink my priorities.