Come Together… Not Just a Beatles Song
People come together for a multitude of reasons; namely, the holidays, weddings, parties, etc. But there’s one thing that usually doesn’t make that list, and it should! Fitness.
Think about it; a group of people meeting on a weekly basis (despite their busy schedules) and working towards a common goal? You don’t get much closer than that. It’s scientifically proven that husbands and wives who work out together experience stronger marital bonds than those who work out separately or, even worse, don’t work out at all. The same goes for you and your CrossFit group (trust me, I’ve seen it). After weeks of training together, cheering each other on, and challenging each other, you become a team — brothers and sisters in arms in the battle against weakness. Now that’s camaraderie.
The same goes for you and your coach — also known as… me. You don’t spend weeks upon weeks working with someone without developing some sort of bond with them. Go ahead, admit it. I’ve become a huge part of your life! Well, I’ve got some news for you — you’ve become a huge part of mine. And as the holiday season approaches, I’m thinking not only of my family coming together for our annual Thanksgiving feast (even my brothers, who are often busy with work or traveling), but of my CrossFit family coming together for, in some cases, the first time.
I’m at the gym all day, every day. I sometimes forget that my morning athletes have never met my afternoon athletes, or vice versa. But when you guys are on vacation, all you want to do is work out! And you tend to show up outside of your regular schedule. After just one class, I can already see that new friendships have formed, and that we’re a stronger team because of it. See what I mean? Fitness is the ultimate tie.
As a guy who values family above all else, it’s incredibly special to me to have everyone in the same place at the same time — both in the gym and at the table. It’s a rare occurrence, but the holidays make it happen. My family traditionally meets at my mother’s house for Thanksgiving and Christmas, where my three brothers and I tend to eat all of the food in sight – and then some – to the dismay of our relations (just kidding…kind of). But at the end of the day, I look forward to, not the apple pie and mashed potatoes (although I do love pie), but spending time with the people I love. And that includes you. Happy Holidays everyone!
