There are many things that will remind us about our sweet Mia: unicorn tails, nachos, and blonde wigs. As Mia moves south for bigger, brighter adventures, we sing her a serenade of tears and ukuleles, and she leaves us with a video nothing short of amazingly Mia. This, folks, is your new visual blog experience:
Hometown Feels (BAL)
It’s an interesting feeling: going back to your hometown. At least for me, it is. Everything is pretty much the same in the big ol’ OC, minus a few new chain restaurants or closures of them. Yes, the sun is shining and my mother is constantly asking if I want something to eat. There is one thing, though, that I can always count on when being home: the feeling of responsibility slowly melting away. I’m on my phone less, I’m lounging more, and I feel truly taken care of, that being an adult in that moment isn’t really necessary.
BAL1
(Note: If you are thinking about coming to November Project I want you to read this whole thing and then show up at our next workout. If you’re a regular, pass this on to someone new and don’t relent until they come to a workout with you).
As some of you know, November Project Baltimore has been around for well over two years and in that time a lot has happened. We’ve had TV news crews come through, stories in local newspapers, visitors from all over the world, political candidates drop in, babies born, weddings happen and, throughout all that time, maintained our strong sense of community and commitment to the city. November Project is like an epic shit storm of energy, opportunity and friendship. It’s a way to turn your city into a playground, grip your town by the shoulders, shake it vigorously and squeeze every last ounce of energy and possibility out of it. November Project takes your boring ass mornings and turns them into the most epic 40 minute youtube video, worth sharing with your entire social network. NP is straight dope, I wouldn’t have stuck around this long if it wasn’t.
The Dinosaurs are Extinct – Happy Earth Day (BAL)
Wisconsin Notes
- Rawr: spirit animals are channeled visually and metaphorically
- Earth Day is all about connection and yogi phrases
- Baltimore St. is just a bit cleaner thanks to the tribe
- Something weird about tennis balls
- A sharp lesson in dinosaur asteroid extinction…with freeze tag
Thank you for giving yourself the opportunity to get out of bed, connect with one another, and be proud of what your body is able to do on this Earth. Thank you for being goofy, for picking up trash, and for being kids again on the playground.
On this #EarthDay, the planet is a whole lot brighter, cleaner, and funnier because of you. Now, stop reading and go get out there! Look at a flower, take in that needed Vitamin D, or eat a salad, or roar like a lion. This is your Earth Day – get after it.
I am not a runner (BAL)
Anna is real. It’s easy to get caught up in the neon, and the sunrises, and the hugs and the fuck yeahs and forget that NP is a challenge. For some of you the immense challenge of waking up, running to a workout, doing the workout, and running home might be an afterthought, it might be something you take for granted. But you folks are in the minority; it’s the people that overcome the challenge of those early mornings that make NP special. Thank you Anna for being real, for looking a challenge in the face and for promising you’d conquer it. Whether tomorrow brings 5 minute miles or 15 minute miles, we love you all.
So, What’s with the Stick? (BAL)
This morning’s reading glory comes from a lady we all know and love at NP, Laura K. As the positivity award winner a few weeks ago, she was presented with a question daily. So, she decided to answer in written format, for all her family and friends to figure out what exactly IS this crazy thing we do at 5:30AM? The answer? Keep reading….
As Reliable as the Sunrise (BAL)
This morning’s post comes from a lady with a sunshine of liquid gold. Seriously. You look at her and she bubbles with joy and you just cannot NOT feel happy. This lady is HOLLY. This is her story:
I moved to Charm City at the beginning of last summer to begin an accelerated nursing program, which quickly became one of the most demanding and exhausting seasons of my life. The first semester of this incredibly intensive, mind-boggling program was at times exhilarating and affirming, but more often than not I felt like I was losing myself into a black hole of crispy-white lecture halls and infinite days stuck behind a numbing computer screen. It was a stark change from my previous lifestyle, and my first time living in a big city – all the concrete felt foreign. There was little time or space for me to do what I loved to do, and I felt like I was unable to express myself and participate in the things that made me happy. My walk to the bus stop was depressingly often my only exercise for the day. While I enjoyed my studies, I yearned for an outlet for my wild and honest spirit. My friend Ariel (bright light, and at the time a fellow student and NP vet) encouraged me to come with her to the November Project. It immediately appealed to me – exercising outdoors with positive people, and on a student’s budget?! What a way to feed two birds with one piece of bread!!
#FedHillSunrise
There is seriously nothing better than the sun. Picnicking, napping, lounging, strolling, and even working out are all activities that seem to be enhanced by the sun. Come on, is there anything better than waking up on a blanket in the grass with the sunlight nicely pouring down?! I think not.
But this morning still would have been BRIGHT without the sun. The feel of the tribe even before the bounce was vibrant and energized. Maybe it was the sun. Maybe it was the newbies. Maybe it was because some vets came out of hibernation. Maybe it was the #FedHillSunrise. All I know, whatever it was, it was way too excellent.
The Power of a Challenge (BAL)
Being comfortable is easy. Being comfortable is nice. Being comfortable allows you to skate by as you were. Being comfortable is just that: in. your. comfort. zone.
This morning, at the beginning, there were moans and groans. “Change up our routine? Box jump UP the BLEACHERS? Hoisties the whole time? Even a SEBASTIAN?! Who are you people?!” But that was it. That was the end. Why? Here’s why:
The Social Fitness Cyclone (BAL)
We welcome to the floor a sprightly lady known as Liz D. To say she brings a smile to your face is an extreme understatement. For the past two years, Liz has #justshowedup crazy outfits in hand, enthusiasm on point, and ready to throw down. Both at workout and during the rest of the week, Liz is a woman so full of light and love for this community and for this city, and that does not go unnoticed. If you don’t know her, get coffee with her. She may be meeting you after 12 hours at the hospital, but she’d do it anyways because she loves people. With that said, happy 2 year NPversary, Liz. Take it away:
Flash back to February 2014. Cold, windy, dark and snowy. Ugh. I had become a citizen of the Hiber-Nation, and the most physical activity I was doing was watching the Winter Olympics. (That counts, right?)
Just kidding, kind of. My friend Julie and I had decided to rally against winter and train for a spring half marathon. Neither of us were strangers to bad weather running, so we both suited up and crushed runs along the icy city sidewalks of doom; until one day, she mentioned that a friend from Boston told her about a new work out group in Baltimore called “November Project.” Apparently, there were people just as crazy as us who were willing to exercise in the arctic tundra together – YASSS my people!
I still remember that first morning. Our friends Leah and Megan packed in Julie’s car with us and we cruised over to Federal Hill. We climbed to the top of the stairs and were immediately greeted with hugs and high fives from about 15 people. The workout was Olympics themed, (“Novchi Projlympics” per the photo album… good one Nick 😉 ) and as newbies, we each were awarded our own handmade (pure silver and gold, duh) medals at the end of the workout. We left that work out on such a high, and we knew we had just discovered something awesome.
Little did we know that two years later, this new found gem would morph into what I like to call the Social Fitness Cyclone of November Project Baltimore.
Watching this tribe grow and take on a life of its own has been incredible. In a world where we have become so technologically connected, yet humanly isolated, people don’t hesitate flaking or ghosting with or without the push of a “send” button. It’s amazing to have a group of people that are so consistent and serve as a constant force of positivity and connection in this world. All of you embrace NP as a community – not only encouraging and holding each other accountable at the Wednesday and Friday workouts, but supporting each other through marathon training, pushing to get faster on Track Tuesdays, trying new food at local ethnic restaurants, and supporting local businesses by bombarding them with a hundred sweaty patrons once a week. NP has evolved from a little group of strangers meeting once a week, to this huge community where the love, support, activities … and hash tags… are endless.
We’ve made enormous developments as a tribe in just two years. At a time when Baltimore is only getting negative attention as a wasteland plagued with violence, murder, and burning buildings, we have gained a significant power to write a new narrative for this city we all love. This is just the beginning for this powerful, positive, amazing social fitness cyclone community. I can only imagine where the road leads from here, so I’ll throw on some #grassrootsgear, lace up my sneakers and wait for you to #justshowup. We’ll run that road together.
Love, Hand Hugs, and Fuck Yeahs:
Liz
Little did we know that two years later, this new found gem would morph into what I like to call the Social Fitness Cyclone of November Project Baltimore.
Watching this tribe grow and take on a life of its own has been incredible. In a world where we have become so technologically connected, yet humanly isolated, people don’t hesitate flaking or ghosting with or without the push of a “send” button. It’s amazing to have a group of people that are so consistent and serve as a constant force of positivity and connection in this world. All of you embrace NP as a community – not only encouraging and holding each other accountable at the Wednesday and Friday workouts, but supporting each other through marathon training, pushing to get faster on Track Tuesdays, trying new food at local ethnic restaurants, and supporting local businesses by bombarding them with a hundred sweaty patrons once a week. NP has evolved from a little group of strangers meeting once a week, to this huge community where the love, support, activities … and hash tags… are endless.
We’ve made enormous developments as a tribe in just two years. At a time when Baltimore is only getting negative attention as a wasteland plagued with violence, murder, and burning buildings, we have gained a significant power to write a new narrative for this city we all love. This is just the beginning for this powerful, positive, amazing social fitness cyclone community. I can only imagine where the road leads from here, so I’ll throw on some #grassrootsgear, lace up my sneakers and wait for you to #justshowup. We’ll run that road together.
Love, Hand Hugs, and Fuck Yeahs:
Liz