I can’t believe that even during these dark days, happiness still feels reachable. You have to find it, whether it’s buried, hidden, or perhaps lost.
Happiness has always been part of my day from the moment I wake up. I savor that first sip of coffee in the morning, that feeling after a warm shower, and hearing the gentle sound of my car starting—these small moments of gratitude I cherish while we all live under a cloud of darkness. I try to find ways to sidestep and distract myself from the daily anxiety that consumes me, like avoiding turning on the news and purposefully steering clear of people and conversations that could turn ugly.
BUT IT’S SO HARD.
I’m exhausted most days—my tolerance for the irrational and the uncomfortable fluctuates. I can confidently stand in front of a class of thirty students, eleven to fourteen-year-olds whose primary goal is to make me invisible. Still, on the road, when I see a particular bumper sticker, it sends me right to crazyland. I want to retreat to a place where I can shut out the world and ask, “Where did the happiness I once felt so effortlessly go?” And then, glorious Tuesday arrives.
Even after a long day, I pull into the Coralwood Mall parking lot, park my car, and go into LA Fitness. I sign in and wait for the bliss to begin. It’s an hour of non-stop joy and high energy. Yes, if you don’t already know, it’s Zumba with Justin.
No kids, no unwanted decals—just the company of a room full of strangers who show up.
No kids, no unwanted decals—just a room filled with strangers arriving. Suddenly, a magical performer enters. Justin, clad in tube socks—a nostalgic nod to positivity and oldies sweat sessions—brings high energy, a bright smile, humor, and the ability to lift spirits and dispel gloom. He’s like Cape Coral’s Pied Piper, using his magic to chase away the blues.
The music he selects is a mix to complement the multicultural crowd. It’s not one thing that makes this class so good. You realize this as you look around and see the faces of everyone in the room. What truly defines this experience for everyone, and for me, I can sum it up in one word: happiness—in its purest form—absolute joy that somehow has been squeezed out of our lives.
I’ve never fully understood how releasing endorphins works, but whatever the science behind it is, it clearly creates a joyful moment in that room. Like the woman who looked over at me with a giant smile and said, “I can’t believe this is exercise!”
So I just want to express my gratitude for offering an hour of relief, inner peace, and elation —a mitzvah. It's a reminder of how exercise can bring a sense of calm and happiness that lasts beyond the workout.
If only the room were large enough to let the world inside!
By Jill Modell-Dion, the creator of Aging Creative and author of the books:
Tales Out Of The Mills- A Cape Cod Thing,
This is really incredible and every bit of it is true that class is awesome and so is justin