The intention of this post is to have something that can be forwarded to friends and family who don’t quite understand November Project – use it as a conversation starter, a way to put into words the feelings you experience on a bi- and tri-weekly basis, or just a place to reminisce and think “That’s totally me!” November Project means a lot of different things to a lot of different people, and today we celebrate the uniqueness and universality of this group. I’m not crying. You’re crying.
I don’t know about you but I’m asked to describe November Project on a regular basis. Just last week:
“Hey, not to be a creep, but you’re always tagged in these pictures on Facebook by this group called November Project. What the heck is it?”
And then I sit there and try to put my thoughts together…
Should I tell them we’re a cult?
Probably not, that’d be intimidating.
But also everyone wants to belong to something, so maybe a cult is the right word?
But I don’t want them to think they actually have to drink Kool-Aid.
So then I stutter through a passionate but likely very unexciting explanation of what November Project means to me and how very life changing it is. And as a former layperson, I can tell you, these are all words.
Not that trying to explain that consistency and #showingup are values that have made you a more present person is invalid. Or that you have grown to love mornings, despite the years of complaining about having to be at work or class early. Or that you all of a sudden are more spontaneous, more outgoing, and more connected to people you never thought you’d befriend.
These are all valid, but they come with the experience. When you’ve never been to November Project, you’ve never felt the inclusivity, even if you’ve heard about it. You’ve never been absolutely gassed with five minutes left in the workout and received encouragement right as you were about to pull back juuuuust a bit, even if you’ve heard about it. You’ve never seen fifty, or sixty, or seventy people gathered on the coldest day of the year – and somehow they’re all still smiling? – even if you’ve heard about it.
If you’re a tribesperson, you know and love the things that make NP great. And so you try endlessly to convince that one friend to join you, but to no avail. For those who are afraid to #justshowup, as a personal anecdote, I read about NP in Runner’s World in 2013, and didn’t convince myself to go to my first workout until January, 2016. Excuse-making can be addicting and comfortable. But please, give it a shot. If you need some encouragement, we’ve gathered a bunch of remarkable remarks from the tribespeople of Milwaukee that you can peruse. Hopefully their words leave you thinking: I want that. Because we love you and want to share it with you.
From MKE, the greatest city of the No Coast (and everywhere, according to an unbiased opinion):
“Self-actualization in the emotional and mental/physical areas of my existence. Shared love and support with like-minded, awesome people.”
“It’s my buoy at the moment.”
“Happiness.”
“In an extreme meritocracy, it’s liberating to be somewhere where there isn’t pressure to be the fastest or smartest or best looking – you just need to show up. You don’t succeed or fail at being a person.”
“Getting that feeling of playing like kids at recess.”
“It means actually being able to find fitness fun!”
“November Project is the embodiment of positivity and unwavering support.”
“For me, NP means finding new and a variety of friends.”
“Giving and receiving: unwavering support, regardless of your effort.”
“NP means to me… connecting with other humans, no matter how weird. Sweaty Hugs for life.”
“NP is a safe space to challenge one’s comfort zones – social, emotional, and of course, physical!”
“A place where everyone is welcome that challenges you to do/be your best and to be consistent while making new friends.”
“Depression makes waking up hard, but November Project makes it a whole lot easier.”
“NP restores my optimism for humanity – there are so many cool people who care out in the world!”
“NP is my goal and my way to meet my goal. I cannot lose.”
“Quite simply, NP makes me a better human being.”
“NP is my way to ‘race’ twice a week… EVERY WEEK! That high I get crossing the finish line after leaving it all on the pavement… I get that same high every single time I give it my all at an NP workout. Well that and I’ve met some pretty kicka** friends too!”
“NP is the sparkly-est part of any given day. It ignites hundreds of wicks to go forth into the gray, sad, non-endorphin laced general populous – lighting them up. Boom goes Milwaukee and beyond!”
“NP is my family by choice that ALWAYS believes in me, even when I’m not sure I believe in myself! Thanks to all of my people!”
“I would be less of a person without NP and NP wouldn’t be as weird without me.”
“NP is a new way to look at life – fresh eyes, fresh minds, fresh hearts.”
“NP reminds me that no matter where I am, I have friends and that the common thread of fitness transcends the things that might normally obscure those friendships.”
“NP is the place where you can inspire and be inspired in the same effort. It’s my place to be me – no matter how I feel that day. It’s the rock in a world full of scissors.”
“NP restores my positive outlook on life and continues to show me that I am quite the lucky human to (a) be alive (b) be part of an indescribable group of people #justshowup and (c) just be happy and thankful for what I have, which is a loving and caring group of humans in a world that gets crazier by the second. Love you all.”
“NP is a strong magnet, a good buzz, a symphonic cacophony. It’s a powerful storm of positive bouncing that any of us can weather because we want to; an imperfectly perfect circle where there’s room for everyone, shoulder to shoulder; a wacky nudge, a gentle shove, a kick in the a$$.”
“NP is a place I feel loved and accepted just by being myself.”
“NP is humanity. The best of humanity.”
“NP is the ultimate consistent supportive group there will ever be. Everyone has ups and downs in life, but NP will always be there. Some days, you can help someone else, other days they can help you. A sweaty hug and a smile makes a world of a difference.”
“It means always having someone to help me get started and believe in myself because others believe in me and I in them. It means always having someone to help me and be with me through any obstacle and across any finish line.”
“November Project is where Milwaukee celebrates humanity. We acknowledge joy and sorrow, good times and hard times. Through the act of running and working out, we show ourselves that obstacles were meant to be overcome, and that we each find a certain euphoria not just in reaching our goals, but in the process of working to achieve them. As NP is based in a community, it serves as a constant reminder that other people are here to depend on and to offer yourself to.”
That’s a lot of love, and from my count, 23 of the 30 responses (for you mathletes out there, that’s 76.6(repeating)% of the answers) have nothing to do with working out. If your fear is not being fit enough, you are. If your fear is not fitting in, re-read the list.
November Project is ohana.
Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.
So drink up, folks. And share a sip with a neighbor.
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