Wisconsin Notes:
- Step by Step list on how to be weird and embrace it.
- This morning we asked questions and got to know each other. STRANGERS BECAME FRIENDS.
- Mia likes to sing and dance when she’s happy.
- The tribe is strong.
When asked to describe November Project or the reasons why I like attending NP, I tend to always find myself using one word consistently…
“It’s a group of really fun and fit people who curse and give sweaty hugs and they don’t mind being a little weird at 6am in the morning together.”
“I do it because I can be authentically myself – a very loud, weird individual who enjoys dancing alone…and often.”
“The people are weird and each have their own stories; and no one cares because we’re just glad they’re here.”
Said weirdness is something I’ve embraced, and I’ve been working on getting my tribe to embrace, for quite some time now. So I’ve brainstormed a list of steps towards truly embracing the weirdness.
STEP ONE. Just show up. It’s that easy.
STEP TWO. Get Uncomfortable. My close, good friend (& pretend twin) Dazzo (but I like to call her Maria) wrote a reallyfuckinggood blog about it. Read it. Here.
STEP THREE. Ask yourself what is the one thing about you that is weird/different that you’ve been hiding from the world (and specifically the NP Community)….
STEP FOUR. Stop hiding it.
STEP FIVE. Embrace the shit out of it. Be proud of your weirdness. Sing at the top of your lungs if you want to (sorry not sorry, tribe – I shall continue doing this). Wear mismatching socks every damn day if you want to (looking @ u, Harrison). Bite strangers on the neck if you want to (@Maggie). Post profile pictures of inanimate objects because Mark Zuckerberg should already know what you look like.
The point is, that weirdness about you is admirable, adorable, attractive, and amazing. That weirdness is what makes you you and it is what makes me glad that you are here.
STEP SIX. Figure out what is weird about other people and TELL THEM IT IS AWESOME. You know how much I love when people laugh and commend me for being weird? SO FREAKING MUCH. And I like to think I’m a pretty typical human being so if I like it, clearly other people would like it too. So do it – go tell someone they’re cool and that you admire something different about them. DO it.
STEP SEVEN. Keep showing up and embracing (physically & mentally) the weirdness of each other and this movement. Give hugs. Do some get-ups. Ask each other questions. Smile at someone. Learn new names. Get to know your tribe.
Mornings like today matter. Maybe you didn’t sweat as much as normal or burn as many calories as you’re used to, but you showed up. When you get the chance to learn a new name, ask each other questions, and listen to each other’s stories, the weirdness is truly embraced. The community becomes real. The time spent coming up with questions and figuring out how to make you a little more uncomfortable every workout becomes worth it, because when I see the sweat and smiles on each and every one of you, my heart is happy (and then I dance and sing because that’s my weird way of showing I’m happy).
These people, this movement, this city… it’s all a little bit weird.
But it works. And it’s working.
Embrace it.
Also, quick shoutout to Torre (sounds like Tori, but I confirmed spelling through extensive facebook stalking). This morning she just showed up for the first time and came to introduce herself to me after. She told me she came because she read the NP Blog. My heart melted. I’m glad you’re here.
Go win your day, NOLA.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Fridays @ the Lakefront, Shelter 1, Lakeshore Drive, 6am. We tag. 80 people and we swim.
- Monday @ 6am. Find out the location on Friday (or on social media on Sunday).
- NP CALENDAR: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1px36KNghaFlL39Cp4K_qJ4R1P6FGUiX-JlU5t1dMjNo/edit?usp=sharing
