Free Fitness Movement. All you need to do is show up!
How does one start off a blog like this? I’m very unsure. It’s not like we haven’t been writing blogs for the past 3 years, but this one is a little different. If you were at our 3rd annual City Glow event on Friday, then you know the news. The bittersweet, exciting news: this Wednesday will be my last workout as one of the co-leaders of NP Baltimore.
Tomorrow morning you will have some new babysitters as your Mom & Dads head out to sit at the adult table and bitch & moan about politics and organic turkeys. The couple known as the Gagnons will be doing shadow puppet shows behind the couch and ordering pizza late into the night as they take over Friday’s NP workout. Treat them nicely, as they are probably the two most amazing people that we know. They are hospitable, kind, generous, and have embraced this community head on. Before you go and give them a hug tomorrow morning, read a little about their story and why they now love Baltimore so much. Emma & Tyler, take it away. (Okay, Tyler – I think these are your words. I saw the word “I” in there)
This morning we hugged a little harder and a little longer. Our bounce was a little closer and our cheers were a little louder. This morning we rallied as the community that we are and rained positivity on everyone. It was a morning to remember. And so when our dear Jill Green, filled with fire and passion, shared why she needed to be at NP this morning, we knew it was important…and important stuff goes in the blog for all to see. If you don’t know Jill, she is all-over-the-world-traveled, extremely well-versed in Baltimore history, culture, and love, and she also happens to be the Assistant Dean at the Law School, where she gives her students extra credit for coming to NP. She has a fun, relaxation committee (it must be that) at school; she’s just that cool. So with that intro, we give you: D. Jill Green:
Prologue: Just here to find the event information? You could scroll all the way down and skip the really important part. Or you could take a deep breath, realize that feelings and stories and people are important + you’ll still get to the bottom soon, and continue to read. Your choice!
Yesterday was a big day for the November Project movement: the big whopping 5 year anniversary. That’s right, November Project is heading to kindergarten. On Nov. 1, 2011, two huge giants decided to do something simple: work out, together, outside. But that simplicity of working out for a month, partnered alongside a community, a new language, some wholehearted excitement, and the cost of nothing, has grown into 32 tribes, 5 straight years of working out, 10000+ humans, 1.2 trillion hugs (yes – we have been counting every week), and hundreds of new friends, relationships, and connections. The dream and reality of two men, led to this.
This man was a little skeptical at first. He showed up and timidly gave hugs. That’s to be expected when it’s your first time and you just moved into a new city. But this past year we have watched Brian get faster, get more involved, get out of his comfort zone, double-verbal, and continue to be a huge asset to our community! This is Brian, this is his story:
As Winifred Sanderson always says, “Oh look, another glorious morning. Makes me sick!”
Sick…..with absolute JOY. Rather than even begin to describe it to you in words (because obviously it would just end up being a bunch of Hocus Pocus quotes – let’s be real), the photos that Gio snapped will be our storytelling device, bringing together outer space with fantasy characters, while traveling alongside wild animals…and Stranger Things.
If you didn’t know already you did after this am: I’m obsessed with Gilmore Girls. Obsessed, double-jinx-back. And today, 16 years ago, Gilmore Girls entered the land and into my life. November Project had the same effect, just many years later.
So this morning we bounced, we sang, we loved coffee just as much as Lorelai and Rory at Luke’s Diner. Then some of us got free coffee afterwards in honor of Gilmore Girls’ birthday! #worthit
By this point, if you are a member of #NP_BAL, you know Jarrett. He quietly joined the scene and showed up, put this head down, and went to work. Slowly but surely (or maybe all at once and right in your face), Jarrett showed you his true colors: his loud, excited, bright colors ready to shine at a moment’s notice. This kid did not just drink the glass of koolaid in front of him, he made a huge pool filled with the grape stuff and dove in head first. He has embraced everything that NP embodies and he radiates it every single day. His transformation is incredible and he has made dozens of new friends and had extraordinary adventures simply by putting himself out there. If you haven’t had a chance to meet Jarrett, do it. But for now, remember why NP is what it is to you, and read Jarrett’s story:
Skip to 1:53. Talk about a better insult…..AMIRIGHT?
Except you all are the best kind of Mouth Breathers, the halitosis we don’t mind rolling over next to in bed or giving out big hugs in the morning. We all haven’t showered, we all haven’t brushed our teeth (or maybe we have – sorry dentist Dawn and Maggie) = BONDING.
On this Labor Day, go ahead and labor those tear ducts a little and enjoy an ever-so sweet story from our dear friend and long-time NP core Laura K. She has grown in her schooling, career, friend cohort, speed, and involvement since joining the tribe and we can’t imagine a workout without her smiling face. So, without further ado, PR Day confessions from a Laura K: