If you were at today’s workout you know now that today was also the last day of my dear friend Ben Otto’s time as a co-leader of NP LAX. Ben believes in this movement as much as anyone in this world, and it was an honor to bring some good to LA with him for a little while. He also hasn’t been able to log into his wordpress account for about 5 months now, which is like, 80% of why I’m posting this little intro. We’ll always love you Ben, technological incapabilities and all. Take it away!
Dear November Project,
I owe you a big thank you.
When I began coming, I was a certain way. We all know the story, we all have our own version. Life was commonplace and the world around me was banal. New to a big city, like so many others who find a home within these tribes, I was lonely and uninspired. I have always been a hopeful person, I have always been able to stay positive but my reserves were depleted and resignation marred my daily interactions. I was easily upset, often angry and quite immature. I was a boy.
And then, one day, I decided to abide my alarm clock and rode my bike to the Hollywood Bowl (RIP) and hobbled around the outside of the group. I yelled a bit and broke a sweat and rode home feeling pretty good. Workout number two was days later, near my home and then I was there the week after. Before I knew it, I was there all the time. Before I knew it I had a name and a reputation and some people to invite to my birthday, they attended too. Before I knew it I was planning trips and running races and I got fast, I got fit, I got happy. Before I knew it I was asked to be a leader, to help others in ways I wasn’t sure I could, to go beyond my capacity for early mornings, to try to inspire others in a new way. Before I knew it I learned to swallow my pride and admit my mistakes (though often very reluctantly), I was working with others and collaborating, communicating, accepting responsibility and asking for it as well. Before I knew it I had grown up.
And now that growing is taking me onward.
I’m nervous as hell but I’m going to be a teacher. I am moving back to NYC and getting my masters in education with a prestigious program that I’m astonished I was accepted to. However, that astonishment is quickly followed up with an “oh yeah” because it’s not just me that’s accomplished something, it’s the result of the community we build together every day. The skills I’ve learned and the perspective I’ve gained from the work and the play that I’ve done with you all combine to make this amazing opportunity feel more real and more right and I thank you for it. Among you, I’ve become a man.
A lot of the time when we talk about NP we talk about it like it’s still some big prank. We laugh at how early we wake up and we joke about sweaty hugs and screaming in the morning. It’s true, it doesn’t fit the mold (whatever that is), but there’s more to it than that. What we’re doing is creating something and without getting too jokey or too sappy, I encourage you to consider what we’re really making when we do this.
I’m a theatre nerd and I will always be infatuated with the magic of collective experience, of the power of setting a scene and watching something play out. In my eyes, NP is theatrical, it asks you to suspend your disbelief and to participate in something that we all know on the surface is madness, but deep down, if we let ourselves buy in, we know it borders on the divine.
Connection is at the core of this. I’m convinced it’s the reason why people come back. You can get a good workout anywhere but there’s something different when you are connected to your tribe through competition, pushing one another to go beyond where you thought you could, and then throwing a breathless high-five at the top of that hill knowing you may not have beaten that person next to you but you beat that voice in your head. You can talk to strangers anywhere but it’s not the same when you’re there to sweat and you have a little more time to find that gem in a person you’d otherwise never extend a hand, let alone a hug, to. We all have days when we want to give up or quit or stay in bed but if we’ve allowed ourselves to throw in some skin and to stand up for one another, it comes around for us when we need and that’s what a real community does.
So thanks for everything NP. You’ve been all of this and more and I’ll never forget my experience with you. I’m not dying or anything so I’ll be around, just not nearly as often. There’s lots to prepare and to do before crossing the continent again.
Don’t ever forget, this belongs to all of us. There may be leaders and founders and core members and newbies, but this is a place where all are welcome, especially those that have never been. no matter. fucking. what. Each morning we do this we all have a chance to send something out into the universe that’s marked with love and kindness and, regardless of politics in an ever-more complicated world, we all could use some more of that. Don’t ever stop reaching out to the person next to you and remember to love others as much if not more than we love ourselves.
And, oh yeah, do great LA.
Thanks for everything Benny. We are so grateful for everything you’ve given us and so proud of everything you’re going to achieve.
NEWS
FRIDAY – 6:27 am in Old Chinatown
SUNDAY – Firecracker 5/10k
- The race starts at 8 AM
- If you’re not running, come #cheergang you’ll be rewarded handsomely with dumplings (that you purchase) and lots of hugs and good vibes (which are free).
NP WATER STATION @ THE LOS ANGELES MARATHON
- March 19th, mile 19!
- Sign up to participate here.
- Team name: November Project LAX
- Password: dogoodLA
#BUFFLIFE
- Buffs are now open to all (but especially those on the waitlist). Get ’em while they last!
FEBRUARY HOMEWORK
- Spread the love every time you go on a run or take a workout class. Extra credit if you share where you learned to be such a positive and encouraging person (November Project LAX. You learned that from us).
