Over the years I have been asked quite a few times WHY I decided to start SiB (and eventually eQ). And the honest answer is that to some degree it happened organically, with the kids training. Someone asked me to help and I did. But the real "launch" of SiB happened because at the end of the day, I never found a gym "home" after Gold's closed. I attended other gyms and definitely found instructors I liked and workout friends - but I never felt the sense of COMMUNITY that I had at Gold's. And for me, that was the piece that was missing. So you know, I made my own. I feel like I am the queen of "pick up your toys and leave if you don't like it". Just ask anyone who knew me pre-Warrior Baseball Club or CCLC :)
ANYHOO, I digress. The reason this is on my mind today is because I got an awesome dose of that community yesterday. And it reminded me of my "why" - and how grateful I am that I am surrounded by so many amazing people. Somehow I got suckered (or FOMO'd) into running the Bay Bridge 10k - AGAIN. After I promised myself I was never going to pay to run anywhere ever again. But alas, I can't resist my gym crew and for some ungodly reason, they LIKE to run.
The trouble with jogging is that the ice falls out of your glass. ~Martin Mull
So my merry band of 13 did the thing. We had serious runners, run/walk/run peeps (like me), and walkers. It was NOT about killing it, but about accomplishing it. Some wanted to beat their time year over year, and some just wanted to experience the actual traversing of the bridge -which is VERY cool, if you haven't done it. But we ALL were motivated by the group outing. And the best part for me was the actual make-up of the crew - we had OG SiB peeps, mother/daughter combos, siblings - and both old friends AND new friends. All with different goals and times and outcomes BUT we ALL did it. And every single person was genuinely excited for every other person. It is never about competing with each other, but propping each other up. Don't get me wrong, we definitely compete - but 90% of the time it is with ourselves. We know the reason we are at the gym is to personally get better - whether that is physically or mentally or both.
Each of us is a being in himself and a being in society, each of us needs to understand himself and understand others, take care of others and be taken care of himself. ~Haniel Long
It hit me this week a little harder because I have been in a bit of a funk - and battling some personal challenges. But I KNOW I have this amazing community to help support me. And I love that my community knows that we are here for each one of them too. We work out - obviously. But we also celebrate milestones and commiserate. We share food stories and where to buy fun things. We "coffee clutch" as necessary - and we have donut fridays. These are all things that are MORE than just a place to work out. The work out is the VEHICLE that drives our community. But the passengers are what drives it to be such a special place day in and day out.
In this age of division and meanness, I am so grateful to have a place where what we have in common allows us to leave the bullshit at the door. We can engage in interesting and diverse conversations while still maintaining respect for each other. It's not always easy, but the feeling of COMMUNITY is one that reigns in some of those more challenging impulses. We value our gym home, and the people in it. We respect the effort it takes to get there and set aside those other daily struggles to make time for our health. We know we always have a built in support system if we need to bitch or cry, and definitely one to help celebrate. It's such a great feeling. And one I do not take for granted.
Every action of your life touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity. ~Edwin Hubbell Chapin
Over the last handful of years, I have watched our community go thru engagements and weddings. pregnancies and babies. new homes, new spouses and lots of new friends. we have suffered losses and divorces, job challenges, kid challenges and everything in between. At eQ you literally know at least a little something about EVERYONE you work out with. There are no strangers - only cheerleaders and friends. This is the gift of the small studio environment, and is a direct reflection on the amazing people who have come thru the doors and made this place their home. It's like Cheers, but for working out. Go us!
Also, we have puppies.....that never hurts!
Happiness is a warm puppy. ~Charles M. Schulz
