Before I slip off into the back of the hypothetical (virtual?!) bounce I wanted to take some time to share my thoughts with you. We can think of this as my exit interview.
Leading November Project has undoubtedly been one of the game changers in my life. I wish I still had the very short “pro/con list” I made in November of 2016 when I was trying to decide if this was something I wanted/was able to do. While I don’t remember exactly what was on the list, I do remember that the “pro” list was far longer than the “con” list. Which led to my eventual “YES” answer. I remember thinking that this just isn’t the type of opportunity to turn down. Little did I know how much November Project leadership (and all of you wonderful humans) would give me over the last four years.
I remember sitting down with Nick, who was and still is a very good friend of mine, while I was mulling it over. Nick probably doesn’t remember telling me that mostly what he wanted was a good sense of teamwork with his co-leaders – he wanted to work with people who made the role fun. That totally made sense to me. At one point during the conversation, he alluded to his eventual retirement, which at the time, was much further out than it wound up being (!). That left me feeling scared. I was going to jump into leadership and then Nick who started this whole thing might step down?!?! OH NO! November Project Baltimore without Nick Rod?! Could I lead this thing without him? When would that moment be? I couldn’t do this alone! Who would join me? Those of you that have been around for awhile know that there were years in between when I stepped into leadership and Nick retired. But my point of sharing all of this is that: change can be scary. That’s okay – I get it. I was definitely scared to make the change to lead the November Project and in some capacity, to leave the role too! But with change comes growth, and that’s where the magic happens.
Thinking back on a lot of NP memories made me read through some old blogs that I was glad to be able to find. Nick summed up the leadership best in this blog which I may tuck away to read every few months to remind me of this absurdly fun period of my life. And while it is true of the lives of our leadership over the past several years it is also true of members. We are all busy people and making time for something that brings you joy is important. November Project has been that for me for eight years and I feel so lucky that I was able to give back in the way of leadership for four. Just remember when things get hard, you lose steam or what may come: that we do have this web of people that we have been lucky to spend time doing hard things together. And that web is not only for leaders. It is true of everyone who shows up, gets involved and keeps showing up!
November Project does not belong to the founders or the leaders; it belongs to the community and everyone should have a stake in it. Having steady and strong leaders is paramount to a smoothly operating machine, but we wouldn’t have workouts to lead without the people who show up to them. And since we (leaders) value each person that shows up, it is important that you also consider yourself leaders in this community, feel empowered to give feedback, and also take some ownership over the way things are going. You don’t like something? Offer a change. You have an idea for a new location or a place to grab coffee? Make a suggestion or reach out to leaders! Change in leadership is a good thing so that many voices are heard at that level and in communication with other co-leaders around the world and NPHQ.
Below is a copy of a few paragraphs of my instagram post from last week for those who haven’t seen it:
As November Project gets older and hopefully wiser we are coming to terms with the circumstances with which we grew. Leadership is having important discussions about inclusivity and how white privilege played a role in our growth early on. We are tackling the organizational characteristics of white supremacy that are deeply embedded in our culture and how to combat/move away from that. It’s powerful and invigorating and it needs leaders that are energized and have the time and energy to keep things moving in that direction.
When I started working in the school system I knew I would need to step down from leadership as I wouldn’t have the same time to dedicate to November Project. While the COVID closures delayed the inevitable, this long winded post is to tell you that on Wednesday I am co-leading my last November Project Baltimore workout. In the before times i would have shouted from the rooftops asking people to come and have fun and be silly for my last workout. During this pandemic things are certainly different and my ask is that if you care about November Project to stay engaged with it. And if maybe you’ve let that slip away, get back engaged. Show up to support (virtually, in person, by text message whatever!!) the leaders and the community. And give them feedback when you can. If you’ve gained things (friends, lovers, roommates, experiences, fitness!) from November Project bring that karma back to the community when you feel safe doing so.
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I have most certainly loved getting to know the individuals of this community better and watching you push beyond your limits to new speeds/strengths/friendships! I don’t have any plans to move away or stop coming to November Project workouts. It was time for me to make space for a new leader to push us, together and individually, to be better. I am so SO thrilled for the future of November Project Baltimore to be in their hands. But you will have to stay tuned for that announcement…!
For now, it wouldn’t be a retirement blog without acknowledging and THANKING the people who gave me a chance to be in this role. To Pat, Nick, Kaye and Lizzie (my co-leaders during my four years as a leader) for making this role so very fun despite the challenges that we may have faced along the way. During hard conversations everything seemed easier because of the people at my sides; we learned lessons in teamwork and collaboration together and I am undoubtedly a better person for it. I should also mention the silliness that we have had along the way; I will miss the camaraderie of our “working” relationship and spending so much time with you. You have all been like family to me — in the same way that I can tell my siblings when they are being annoying or they just need to go clean up the dishes, you, too, have fallen into this category where I can be blatantly honest and be lovingly appreciative of you at the same time. I hope you feel the same way about me and not that I am just being bossy, which most likely also true but don’t tell my brothers I said that.
The last thing I want to do is send myself off with some highlights that bring me a lot of joy and smiles and maybe they will do that for you too!!
Funniest moment: I think watching people build sculptures out of trash during the Trash Dash might rank up there. Also squishing 15 people in a van on the way to and from milwaukee was pretty ridiculously funny after the fact.
Favorite workout: Quite possibly the track workout during the first Summer School. IDK why but it was very very fun.
Proudest moment: the Baltimore marathon when loads of NP BAL people come through and it’s a dance party at our cheer station. I really missed that this October. Also the Gin Riot. All of them but the first one felt like an awesome accomplishment as one of the biggest events we pulled off in my leadership.
Most absurd workout: I think being “pie-ed” on pi day with shaving cream was possibly my most absurd. Because if I had been thinking clearly I would have used whip cream and not shaving cream.
Biggest regret: Not engaging with other cities or co-leaders as much as i could have. And not sharing our community agreements with more regularity: https://november-project.com/community-agreements/
Thank you so much for being part of this thing and showing up for us! Definitely feel free to reach out to me to share other funny/silly memories: ecbryson@gmail.com or find me on the socials or at the workouts if and when we can have them!!!
So SO much love,
Bryson
