Jen Renjel, everyone. If you don’t know her, you must not show up to NP ever. Because she’s basically always there. And so is her soon-to-be-born baby girl. No matter what we task y’all with, Jen takes on every workout with so much grit & determination… AND SHE’S ABOUT TO FREAKING POP. I aspire to be like Jen and you all should too. Here’s her story. We’re so glad she’s here.
Following Mia’s “Gratitude” pep talk on Monday, I thought now would be a good time to share with you all and with anyone who sleeps through their alarm (but takes the time to read our blog) how much gratitude I have for November Project and why you might just want to show up instead of hitting snooze.
I have been religiously taking part in these workouts since March 2015, with a one year NP stint in D.C. But my gratitude especially goes to NP NOLA and everyone that has showed up and given hugs and high fives to me over the last nine months.
So, what’s been going on these last nine months? Well, in early March, I left New Orleans to be with my fiancé while he worked in Puerto Rico. I was newly pregnant and lived in constant fear of mosquitos who might have been carrying the Zika Virus, so I left him to return to New Orleans. I flew to D.C. to meet my brother’s new baby, where I got the flu and was laid out for three weeks. After that, it was back to my NP NOLA family and we picked up right where we left off.
A few weeks later, my work contract with a state public health program ended four months early due to funding reallocation. I was pregnant, alone, and unemployed. But … I still had November Project. Consistency and positivity.
A few weeks after that, my mom was diagnosed with a stage three cancer. I returned home to be with her and care for her as she began battling this horrific disease.
When it was finally time for me to return to NP NOLA, I was greeted by those same familiar hugs and high fives and positivity.
And then, Hurricane Irma hit Puerto Rico and my fiancé’s work was halted. Shortly after Irma left devastation in her wake, Maria hit.
My fiancé was stranded, I was 36 weeks pregnant, flights out of Puerto Rico were cancelled, and my mother was unable to travel due to chemotherapy treatment and its unfortunate side effects.
Despite all of this, I felt okay because even with a tumultuous nine months, NP has been there for me, whether you all realize it or not. And for that, I will be forever grateful.
There have been many mornings when I wake up and just want to cry (and have on a few occasions) on my way to NP about one thing or another (chalk some of that up to hormones), but I get it together and show up, and surrounded by you—an amazing group of humans— the dark cloud that has been hanging over me is suddenly lifted.
When people simply show up, real power is created. Sure, there is the physical aspect, but there is also the emotional aspect as well. These last nine months have brought many challenges to me, and I’m sure to others in the NP NOLA family—none of which I’m sure we could have ever imagined. But that’s life. And that’s why I’m so grateful to our tribe.
November Project has been the one constant for me over these past months where I knew hugs, high fives (and a great workout) and positivity were guaranteed. On days when I felt like there was no winning, whether you realize it or not, you had a part in helping me get through the hard times with a smile on my face. I, along with my mother, fiancé, and sweet baby girl, are forever grateful.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Sign up for the Gleason Classic with code “npno” on team NP NOLA by today to receive $8 off. HERE
- November Project night at the Pelicans – Info here: Facebook Post
- First Monday, Best Monday. City Park Practice Track at 6am.
- Taco Run with Resident Runners TOMORROW. Sign up here: http://residentrunners.com/tacoruntour/nola
