OAR-ganic Growth (ATX Guest Blog by Rachel Wimberley)

I was so honored to receive November Project Austin’s positivity award for the month of July.  I sat after the workout with my camera at the ready and waited for our two illustrious leaders to present the award (to someone else.) I was going to get a great shot of the hand off to the recipient – until I realized it was me.

Like many of my NP tribe members around the world, saying NP has changed my life is a pretty epic understatement. It’s given me lifelong friends and access to a community of the most genuine and positive folks on the planet. It is a group that will help you rise; helping one person excel is to help the whole tribe succeed. If you don’t believe me, go to a few workouts and get back to me.

My first introduction to November Project was in Washington, D.C. in April of 2014 (there were very few tagged shirts back then.) I continued going intermittently in D.C. I loved the workouts, and the tribe was always encouraging and kind, but I struggled to find my spot within the group. I was used to my smaller running groups and quieter yoga community, and the D.C. tribe was so large I sometimes had a hard time connecting one on one.

Fast-forward to early 2016 when it was time for me to move to Austin, Texas; I started to freak out. Once you realize you are moving somewhere with no NP tribe, you start to appreciate what you have. I doubled my efforts to go to as many workouts as possible before moving and soaked up as much positivity and as many “Fuck Yeahs” as possible.

One day in late July 2016, on a trip to Barton Springs Pool, I happened to be wearing a tagged NP shirt and bumped into a man wearing an NP buff. The dude (in said buff) was Brian Fons. He was originally from the Chicago tribe. We hugged. We chatted. He told me about Project Austin.   What if I had not been wearing my grassroots gear?!? Tagged shirts for the win here!!! I went to the very next workout. As you can see, we were a wee bit smaller then.

I was struggling with my transition in Austin. I had a terminally ill family member and had left my running crew, tribe, and beloved job back in D.C. Applying for jobs all day was lonely, and interacting with this small but mighty team three days a week quickly became the highlight of my week. It helped me make real friends in a new city. It gave me human interaction when I had very little at that time because I didn’t know anyone besides my family. It also gave me a free place to workout with incredibly kind and supportive people while I dealt with all the emotions related to a significant move and a sick family member. Pretty soon folks started commenting on my commitment to just showing up and how rapidly I became a regular. Nowadays I often show up for others, but at that time in my life, I needed to show up to be supported by the tribe. I craved that positive and safe space that simultaneously challenged me physically.

I cannot overemphasize the importance of finding your NP tribe if you are new to a city that is lucky enough to have one. It is a game changer. You will meet the coolest folks in your area, and they will invite you to things and give you hugs and tell you that you have a great ass.

As my month with the Positivity award comes to an end, it gives me pause for reflection. The changes this tribe (now officially November Project Austin) have made on me are indelible. August 1st will be my one year anniversary with this crazy bunch of folks. In no way can I imagine my Austin life without these people. I am amazed by the changes and growth we have achieved this year, and I cannot wait to see what happens in the first full year of November Project ATX.  

FUCK YEAH!!!

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