Today was a good day. We’ve had babysitters in the past, but we like to think we gave it a spin that brings a fresh perspective to the meaning of “tribe.” Plus we got to celebrate a couple of NPSD weddings happening this weekend!
Today at NPSD, we let three of our amazing core tribe members step up, rally the rest of the tribe, and lead the workout.
Enter, Sam, Sophie, and Erik.
Where were the leaders?
Why, we were right upfront and center in the crowd. No travel. Just giving this tribe back to the tribe. Because, at the end of the day, this is for all of YOU, isn’t it? Isn’t that what it’s all about?
How did it go? Let me just say, we may be getting some pink slips from Corporate… And we wouldn’t be upset.
Read Erik’s story. NP isn’t the leaders. NP isn’t just a fitness group. NP changes lives. This shit is SO good.
Be bright, San Diego.
There are a handful of moments in life that you will remember forever. For me, a discussion I had while sitting at a dive bar on Morena Blvd is one of them. It was the night that I met LP and heard about November Project. Humble as ever, she mentioned that she and two other gals led a group of people who ran and did exercises at Kate Sessions Park. That was about it. Or at least what I paid attention to. Subtle at best, but the seed was planted.
Now let’s rewind about a year before meeting LP. I had been involved in a bad car accident. There were injuries. Luckily no permanent injuries or deaths and I even got away the easiest. Guilt consumed me. Depression ensued. My relationship dissolved. I sold my house to pay bills and gained weight. I stopped working out and justified a walk to dinner or a short surf as being my exercise for the day. This went on for about a year until my yearly physical when my doctor told me my cholesterol was high and I needed to consider a change in my lifestyle. I was only 30.
It was a couple months after meeting Lauren that I attend my first November Project workout. It was at the convention center (RIP). My thoughts after that day were: These guys are weird. That was hard. These guys are fucking weird.
I, like A LOT of people that come to November Project, was completely overwhelmed for the first few months. The sweaty hugs creeped me out and I felt intimidated by all the FAF people. Luckily for me, LP had hooked two of my best friends so they continued to give me the extra push when I may have stopped coming otherwise. After a few months I became an irregular by showing up to a couple workouts a month. After about six months of on/off attendance something clicked.
What clicked was when I realized that NPSD is more than just a workout group. It truly is a way of life. A way of life that reminds us to be happy, be strong, and be bright. Most importantly it teaches us to be kind to one another and embrace each other’s differences. Ironically NP uses social media to communicate with all of us. Yet it has a way of getting us to disconnect from our phones/monitors while teaching us to embrace the human beings that surround us. This was exactly what I needed.
It doesn’t matter if you are the fastest or the slowest. Or if you’ve been coming since pledge-hood or today was your first workout. You are equally important to this movement. Without the OG’s who are FAF, we would have no one to chase. Without the new people showing up, the movement would inevitably fade.
We all have our stories and baggage that we carry with us to the workouts. They are what make us who we are today. Whether NP helps you push those stories and baggage away or you use them to push you, the important thing is that you just show up. You may make new friends. You will probably get faster. But most importantly, you will have a fucking blast.
– Erik
ANNOUNCEMENT:
Monday: 5k and Tagging Day! BRING YOUR TRAIL SHOES. We’ve got a SICK 5K course ready for ya! Presidio Park at the Junipero Serra Museum. And ONE shirt to tag, please!
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