How is tomorrow really any different than today? Just like how is today really any different than yesterday? Except that tomorrow we write 2019 as the year, instead of 2018. It’ll be January, instead of December. The world gets wrapped up sometimes in the symbolism of the “new year” throwing out all kinds of pressure for “new beginnings,” “new year resolutions,” and all that. When really, tomorrow is no different than today or the day before.
But I think that if you’re living life in a way that feels pretty damn good, then it’s easy to say that there’s no difference between today and tomorrow. It’s easy to expect that, like today, tomorrow we’ll just keep doing the stuff that we love, because we have the luxury or opportunity to do those things. And it’s not so easy to make a change or to start doing things we really want or need to do, when life doesn’t feel so fulfilling or those things don’t feel so accessible.
Maybe the end of the year gives us an important reminder and some structure on the calendar to really pause and think about how we’re living. Are we happy? Fulfilled? Doing the things we love? Finding the kind of meaning we want in our day-to-day? And I don’t mean to make this blog all existential or anything–but I think in being human, we all crave those kinds of feelings. Happiness, joy, connection, fulfillment, and meaning. Good, hearty meaning. Otherwise, what the hell are we doing? Even that good old phrase #worldtakeover which November Project was so well-known for talking about in the first few years it existed–World Takeover was (and still is, as far as I’m concerned) all about taking over the world with movement, fitness, community, and kindness. Those are the meaning-filled kinds of things that we all tend to strive for, whether we do it all year long, or if we have solid habits and practices that cultivate it regularly, or if we use the end of the year and the start of another one to help us focus on, make intentions about, and take action on living that way.
So, what’s the end of a year, really?
Today it was an opportunity for so many people in Boston to show the fuck up to a little basketball court in the Fenway and sweat through a workout that was probably a lot harder than they thought it might be on NYE. It was a reminder that there are people out there–out here in Boston and all around the whole world (49 tribes, baby!!)–who are glad you’re here. Today it was a chance to grab coffee or breakfast after the workout, to discuss NYE plans, and to promise to see each other next year.
Maybe “seeing each other next year” means showing up, no matter where you are, on Wednesday–because you bet your ass that in 49 cities around the world there will be November Project on Jan 2, 2019. Maybe “seeing each other next year” means those couple of times that you’re able to get to a workout because of your work schedule, your geography, your kids who need you to get them out of bed and to school right when the workouts happen, or whatever other life goes on.
But I really hope that the end of this year means something extra in 2018. I hope that more and more in 2019 and beyond, everyone who is and who ever has been a part of November Project, begins to see and take action on just showing up and seeing each other — at workouts–and outside of workouts.
Yes, we care a lot about everyone showing up to workouts, but we ALSO CARE ABOUT the tribe being strong outside of workouts.
Even if you can’t show up MWF mornings to the locations where we will always gather, make plans with your NP friends to get your workouts done, and do it together. Even if you’re alone, do your workouts and post that stuff on social media, tag the tribe, and keep moving. The tribe is here for you, absolutely. But also remember this–what you do for the tribe, thinking of the tribe, as a part of the tribe, no matter where you are, the more positivity, community, kindness, and motivation you contribute to it also. You can inspire many, even when you don’t realize it, with small actions.
And let’s build more community outside of workouts too. It’s cool to make friends you see at workouts. And when I look at the kinds of friendships, partnerships, marriages, kids, business collaborations, and amazing collectives of human beings that have come out of NP, I think about how much better the world is because of it. Literally, there are human beings who wouldn’t exist, were it not for NP. This is just as important as the health, fitness, and physical activity we achieve and appreciate during workouts.
So, yeah…there’s no difference between today and tomorrow, between this year and next year, between now and the future. But every freaking moment counts, and is worth living with meaning, with movement, and with community. The end of a year is exactly the same as the end of a day–it’s a chance to look at that day, or year, and decide exactly how you want to live the next one.
Let’s decide to start 2019 as an opportunity to keep showing up, and to show up in brand new ways. Show up for yourself. Show up for your tribe. Show up for your city and all the people in this bigger movement who you haven’t even met yet, but that you will meet because you’re a part of this awesome, weird, incredible, social fitness community. We are changing the world, today, tomorrow, and forever. Onward.
Final Announcements of the Year:
- Next Monday Destination Deck Workout: Jan 7, 6:29am, will be at Flagstaff Park on the north side of Harvard Square. Exact map location here.
- Join EmSauce for the January Winter Challenge–join the November Project team of humans who are committing to moving at least a mile (walk or run, outside or inside) every. single. day. of January. We’ll help support and encourage each other to move on NP days + all the other days too!
- Register here. Be sure to click the “individual entry or join existing team” and join the November Project team. DO IT TODAY!
- Jan 2, 2019. The very first WEDNESDAY workout of 2019 at the Stadium. 5:30am & 6:30am. #nomatterwhat
