Today’s guest blog comes from Greg Berkovich. I’ve never known how to spell Greg’s last name since it’s in foreign characters on Facebook. Apologies if I’ve just butchered your name, Greg. Greg has been coming to NPSF for a long time and recently hopped in a van to drive east for an open-ended trip. He’s been a rock in our tribe and we’ll miss him dearly. Take it away, Greg and come back soon!
P.S. This blog post was meant for after Friday’s workout but it’s still very much worth sharing 🙂
Things happened Friday morning. The tribe met at a sheep hill or something. We survived crossing a not so busy street. Our favorite Frenchman had a birthday. Our favorite Irishman probably said something that made the whole tribe giggle (one, two, tree). We saw a cougar – or maybe just a really well fed house cat – I’m not an animal identifier person or whatever. And Per usual the tribe crushed it.
So by now you probably realize that this is a guest blog, and you’re thinking, “who the fuck are you?” Well I’m Greg, I’ve been a tribe member for around 3 and a half years and I am leaving for an undetermined amount of time so it’s confession time: I love the fuck out of you guys. Now, honesty time: when I first showed up to NP with a friend all those years ago, I was a little creeped out. Sure the workouts were great, but I thought that there was no way these people could be this cheery and this nice this early in the morning.
Also, hugging. For the next year and a half or so, I came when it was convenient, when I was caught up on sleep, when work would let me, etc. I came for the workouts, I reluctantly hugged people and I did socialize but on a pretty basic level. Slowly, things started to change, I started going to more workouts, I started making friends and (gasp!) going to social events. I invited people to come swimming. I started to see NP as more than just a workout, but a community.
Not long after that epiphany, one of our tribe members, Sam Dweck, tragically passed away. Through the pain and the grief, the outpouring of love and support to each other, to Sam’s family, coworkers and friends was staggering. It was then that I saw the real strength of what had been built in this weird, foggy city. I learned that you guys are for real. That regardless of whether you are best friends or just casual workout acquaintances that the tribe will have your back. I leaned on that support this year, and I am so eternally grateful to have gotten it. I’m grateful to have gotten random texts checking in to see how I was doing, to be included in run gang posts even when I knew I wasn’t coming, and being reassured that however long I was gone from the workouts, that they were still going on, and that when I came back I’d be welcomed with open arms.
There’s a lot more I could say here but I think the main take away is this: you all have built something beautiful here, hang on to it. Be good to each other.
-Greg
P.S: Thank the leaders sometime, they do a lot!
