I <3 my job.

Especially the affirmations from Members.  Shout outs from staff and our leadership team are awesome, but coming from the folks without a fancy title really make my day.

I don’t think I have written too much about the running/walking club I started up (massive thanks to Brooks for donating 300 pairs of brand new shoes, 100 tech tees, 40 pairs of socks, 40 pairs of shorts, and thus creating a sense of team, equality, and excitement!), but here’s an email I received from a Member involved (and just generally around making this place so full of brightness, song and personality):

hi liz.
i wanted to thank you for all that you do -
and ask you to help me thank everyone involved with the sole train team.
i made a video

please watch it, and if you think it’s appropriate, forward the link to intersted parties.
mahalo
owen

For real, Owen is so cool, and I should be the one thanking HIM (and the others who participate) for humoring my ceaseless announcements and probes to show up for a mid-morning run or walk before lunch.  I consider it a ‘Recovery Circle’ in motion, not only for Members, but for volunteers and mySELF most prominently.  We have SUCH great conversations on the road – about featured menus advertised in cafes we pass, about the meaning of and intentions behind use of the word “prejudice,” about our struggles with using or eating or reacting, about oil spills, legislative ridiculousness in Seattle or elsewhere(cough, cough, AZ), brainstorming jokes to tell at Open Mic, how much despite not wanting to come today, we know we will feel 1249x better afterwards, or about nothing at all, just enjoying each other’s company.

What’s really great about this video is how much it re-energizes me and re-commits me to this SOLE Train thing.  I’ve lately been a little flustered having to stop right when I get going in ‘super productive mode’ to change, fit people for shoes, and be gone for about an hour an a half and annoyed with having to be sweaty for the remainder of the day (we do not have showers to use post-run), and the lack of assurance in my appearance this causes….ridiculous, right?   Well just like my bicycle fall last week (I couldn’t release my cleats and took a slow motion sideways fall while stopped at a busy intersection en route to work.  Hilarious.), I am learning to let go of my ego a little – this video message makes being hot, unshowered, and not 100% put together Mondays and Wednesdays totally worth it.

I made the group one day smile and kick for the camera for a thank you photo to send to Brooks...

our glee upon returning one day

Some days we have 3, some days we have 13