It’s time to hear from you again. It’s been so long. In today’s guest blog, we’ll get a chance to learn more about someone who has been shining his light on all of us this past pandemic year. Dig in and learn more about Jason…
So the truth is I was first invited to NP, long, long before I actually showed up. My friends
Robin and Caitlyn Padayni were a regular part for quite awhile. They moved to Calgary so they’re dead to me now but we were friends. They invited me a couple times and I didn’t come for three reasons. 1) I thought the name was stupid, they invited me to the November Project in January and I thought am I late or way too early either way, I don’t think I am interested. 2) It was -30 and I did not want to workout outside at 6AM. 3) Most importantly I didn’t think I would fit in, I wasn’t 27, I wasn’t fit, it sounded like a great group for someone just not for a someone like me.
The other day I witnessed an event that made me truly happy. I was driving across the Groat Road Bridge and someone I recognized from NP was running the same direction I was driving. I watched this individual catch and pass a group of 4 12-14 year old boys on bicycles and the boys sped up to keep up with the runner, she is pretty fast! It was a fun little moment but when I think of who I used to think NP was “for” I think of people like her! But truth is I wish I had shown up with Robin and Caitlyn, because here is what I have learned since I have been involved the last 18 months, NP really is “for me” and a lot of other people too!
It was probably my first time, but if not it was my second when people started calling me by name and cheering me on. Honestly, I have had approximately 375,000 positive things said to me during workouts in the past year and a half. I have heard exactly one negative thing and that from someone who was just trying to encourage their friend to catch me, so it really wasn’t about me. Even that person is now my friend. I have not just been permitted to tag along, I have been encouraged to be an active part of this family of fit people. I haven’t been ever a bystander or a hindrance I have been made every bit a part of it like everyone else. My efforts have been celebrated, my setbacks have been mourned. I am really into the Bible and I have a Master’s Degree in what is essentially Bible Study, (called an M.Div. officially) There is a Bible verse in a 2000 year old letter to the church in Rome that encourages the church collectively to “…rejoice with those that rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.” People can never do this perfectly and a lot of churches are terrible at it! but NP has fulfilled that for me more powerfully than most of the churches I have been a part of! I have made friends with people that run ultras for fun, that run marathons of hills to celebrate milestone birthdays, that have participated in competition at an elite level. I started this journey with you at fat and nearly 48 years old now I am still fat and 49, in a few more months I will be fat and 50! Yet there are people who are fit and half my age who are happy to see me at their runs even if they only see me at the start and long after they finish!
I have included a couple special photos, if you didn’t know me now you’ll know who to look for. If you didn’t know a big part of why I just show up is to try and keep up with my wife and daughter and literally to prolong my life. I don’t want my girl to grow up without a dad, and so I’ll try to surprise the doctor’s for as long as I can. I had a check-up this week and my blood pressure is still normal a pleasant surprise for me and my doctors. My kid has joined me twice so far but I keep asking! My wife does her own thing and is not the extrovert I am so she doesn’t need the cheering section, but I might talk her into someday! If you know me you may have met Comet! She joined the family December 2019 and she is our favourite reindeer by far! The other picture is my little cohort that got me through the pandemic. Originally it included Joel who has since moved to Canmore, Jorgen and Lee-Ann have moved to Pender Island, others have occasionally come and gone, but Andi and I (see what I did there) have more recently been cheered on more and more by Rachel and Janine. I miss the big crowds and I miss having guys to workout with, but I literally thank God for these women willing to welcome me to work out with them 3 times a week, there are too many times when I wouldn’t do it without them.
I really wish I could hug you all! Please be sure to let me know whether you want to be hugged politely like normal humans or bear hugged in a way really only appropriate for drunken people at a Stanley Cup Victory parade! I can get a little … ummm enthusiastic! Thanks for being part of my reason to just show up, I am sure glad I did!
– Jason Shine
As I said before Jason, thanks for making us realize we ARE all Phil. 😉
Happy Friday y’all.
~togetherisbetter
Lazina
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Jason, reading your blog made my day.
Thank you