Good morning!

First, our thoughts go out to everyone affected by the recent Hurricanes Milton and Helene. This is the American Red Cross site if you wish to help through them.

This week all of us were extremely fortunate to hang out at Barnes and Noble with a famous author, Julia Hotz, as she came through Columbus on her international book tour. The Connection Cure details the emerging science behind the immense power of social connection. We love this book – it’s filled with wonderful stories (heads up tho, not a lot of pictures). WWAD’s four pillars are physical activity, social connection, nature, and education – so, yes, we love seeing something critically important to our collective health be described so beautifully. 5.0 on Amazon and 4.5 on Goodreads (that’s not easy).

Thursdays after work I meet a friend at an old industrial warehouse that’s been transformed into a gym for some strength training. Exposed high metal beams, peeling white paint, and insulation jutting out everywhere filled with equipment that looks more intimidating on some days than others. This week, he was once again putting me through the paces. I had stopped taking it personally years ago, but wow. To get some oxygen and my heart rate under 220 bpm, I stepped through the big open garage door into the chewed-up black asphalt parking lot, now trying not to get hit by a car in my altered state. At that moment, hands on hips and panting, I was debating whether to call Krissy or my mommy, excuse me, mother, to take me away from my mean friend. Then I looked up and saw the above address sign on the car repair shop across the road. I was like, SHAZAM!

It changed my entire outlook. It shifted me from thinking I wasn’t getting the job done at that moment, feeling like a failure, to thinking, ‘Hey, we’re in this for the long game here.’ That 247 sign was saying – it’s okay, just chill. If things aren’t working right now, it’s cool. Some days you’re the dog, and some days you’re the hydrant. The key is being there every day, 24/7. Engaged. If your heart is in the right place, if you wake up each day and try and park one space further away, eat one more vegetable, or aim for one more nice deed – on Dec 31st – you are a winner. You tried every day. 24/7. Just stay in the game and do a little something, just a little. Just keep bringing the heat. Little, tiny wins. Makes me think of another great book.

Then I began questioning myself as that sign was ‘saying’ a LOT. Maybe my current lactic acid level is creating some impaired mental state and I’m about ready to send these thoughts to 35,000 people? Well, what the heck, we’re all friends.

Happy Friday! If there is a bump in your day today, as there almost certainly will be, maybe just remember you’ve got 247. No worries, be happy.

david