I guess Florida took the option for California to be “the sunshine state” because I always get it confused as to which is which, until I remember the other option is “the golden state” and I remember that THAT is California. As you ride around this place, especially here in the south, there is a kind of golden feeling, a feeling of richness and a feeling of warmth. I think of a perfectly toasted marshmallow, sandy beaches, rocky mountains and of course that wonderful sunshine.
The sunshine this morning was hot, direct, and pretty wonderful. As I wrote about last week, it was going to be the darkest workout of the year and this time, we’d be back to some nice visibility and our positivity could be shared with one another. Not to toot my own horn but today was proof that I was pretty right because everyone made sure to bring their game faces.
After a few hard strength workouts in a row, we decided to let this one stretch out a bit and get some distance under our belts. We covered the whole complex, from the bottom of the B lot to the top of the far stairs, it was evident that a shakeout might be in order. As always, the tribe was strong and supportive and downright fun.
A few times, I ran and allowed myself to close my eyes and bathe in that wonderful golden sunshine. It’s a rare privilege of ours that we can count on good weather nearly every workout of the year (London was 35 degrees and spitting rain this morning) but it’s not something that we should take for granted. Just the same as we shouldn’t take the light we share with one another for granted. This community is strong and built on the idea of sharing and inclusion. We work hard at our workouts and we take that energy with us when we leave.
I also spoke of homework today which I hope we’ll all take very much to heart. I said (for those of you who weren’t there #wemissedyou) that we have one of the tightest core groups of any NP tribe that I’ve seen and that’s a gem, it’s something we can be proud of, but NP is for everyone, not just those who are already here. Recently I’ve heard a few stories of people who are coming now who came because someone approached them on a run, or in a bar, or in an unexpected situation and, though it may have been awkward, they let that person know that there’s a place out there for them and that place is called November Project. We love each other and that is wonderful but part of our task as a community is to always be bringing more people and letting them know that they are wanted, no matter what they look like, what they believe, who they love or how they move through the world. We’re doing something good and it’s changing the chemistry of the cities we live in so let’s be the catalyst for that reaction. We saw so many stories like this at the screening of “Just Show Up” and I looked over the group today, knowing many of you have been forever changed because of what we do on Wednesdays and Fridays. In my opinion, to not share it isn’t just not good, it’s selfish and I don’t think a single one of you has a selfish bone in your body.
Thanks for always being there, NP. You guys are important and what we’re doing is important and it’s all of our jobs to make it grow.
Get out there and do GREAT.
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