Good Morning!
Y’all Good?!?
These are words that we have all grown to love. So much so that I can guarantee you just mouthed “Fuck Yeah” while reading them at your desk and if you just said it out loud and your uppity co-work heard you, well “sorry not sorry.”
As you may already know today (8/31/16) was my last workout as the co-lead of #NP_VB and I just wanted to write a quick blog to say, “Thank You.” I will warn you the first part is a little bio that is a bit boring (I fell asleep even writing it) and the second half is the real thank you part so feel free to skip to there. Enjoy.
On May 8, 2015, I started a journey that has truly changed my life in the best ways possible (First NP hug below) by just showing up to Mt. Trashmore on a chilly Wednesday morning. I had just recently moved back to Norfolk after five years and was looking to find a new community to be a part of and what I found when I got there was just too weird to turn away from. Just imagine showing up to a free workout on top of a giant trash compost heap and not one but TWO gingers are leading said workout…weird right?
The real game changer for me though came on September 9, 2015 when John “Red” DeBoer took me to dinner and asked me to be his co-lead forever (or at least for the next six months). This was an honor that I didn’t take lightly despite proceeding to lead what might have been the worst bounce in the history of #NP_VB the very next morning. Honestly, I still get shivers just thinking about it.
BUT. That is waaaaay too much about me! Let’s talk about YOU for a minute because YOU are what makes this so magical and without YOU there would be no tribe and without a tribe there would be no co-leads so from the absolute bottom of my heart I thank every one of you, that like me, decided to #justshowup one morning and a special thank you to those that have been coming even longer than me and still show up regularly! (Looking at you Double Jenn, Herb, Julie, Nic, Ann & Louis just to name a few) Like many of you, knowing that I was going to be greeted by these smiling faces no matter what is a big part of what drove me to get out of bed most mornings so I thank you for that as well.
BUT. (Yes, I just started my second straight paragraph with “BUT,” deal with it.) Please believe this is not a goodbye but rather just a farewell for now. I promise to make it back for as many Wednesdays as I can and in the meantime I am trusting all of you with complete ownership of the tribe. We say it all the time but #recruiteveryone because THIS! SHIT! IS! GOOD! and everyone deserves to be a part of a great community like ours so spread the love to all of Hampton Roads.
BUT. Don’t forget to spread the love to the fine folks that are already a part of the tribe. I have been lucky enough to get to travel to a handful of different tribes and even go to summit (You need to go next year!) and have seen what this movement can grow into and the amazing bounds that can form from it so be sure to not only hug all of these people when you see them but be sure to invite to them all to your favorite happy hour, or your cousin’s baby shower, or your nephew’s Elementary School graduation party because these people are amazing and caring people and it wouldn’t be weird at all for them to be there, I promise.
I know I have rambled on for waaaay too long but if you are still reading this far I am going to make it worth it by telling you a little secret. So lean in a little closer to the screen because between you, and me you’re pretty amazing and are easily my favorite #NP_VB tribe member (Just don’t tell all those others shlubs that I told you that).
Much Love, Stay Golden, and see you in the bounce!
Kris
(Oh and John, nice morning wine)
Share via socials:
