Something crazy happens when you start to hang around the same people all the time and as much as you may or may not like it, you know it’s true. We all start to read the same things, like the same things, talk about the same things, wear the same things, and do the same things. As much as I profess to “be yourself” and to “stay true to who you are”, the fact of the matter is that we become like those we love. We are who we associated with, even in slight and subtle ways….like unconsciously painting your nails the same color.
Yes, this is a picture of me and three of my best friends. We showed up for house church the other night and realized we all had the same nail color on. None of us had discussed this or even made a plan to do so. It just happened. Such is the law of association. Now I realize that nail color is harmless (sometimes) and things like this tend to happen. But what does this have to do with your fitness journey and maintaining a healthy quality of life? Well, a lot.
No man is an island. It wasn’t until recently that God began to show me why. You see, I’ve always been more of a loner type and historically have lived extremely guarded. I used to like to train on my own with no one around and would get irritated if people got in my zone. But he showed me that if we don’t allow others in then we cut off our chance for growth. Community isn’t just so we’ll have something to do so we can all get through life together. Nor is it a religious formality or superficial pot lock/Sunday school class where everyone puts up a good front and then goes right back to our little boxes the next day. It’s living transparently and allowing people to speak the truth in love, even when it hurts.
Needless to say, I now train with some of the best athletes and most knowledgeable trainers in my community because I realize if I want to grow and become better then I have to surround myself with it. We push each other and we don’t let each other sandbag. This is the point of having friends!!! We tell each other what we are instead of what we’re not. There is competition but it’s healthy.
We were created to live and thrive in community. Deep within you is the need to belong and to be apart of something. That something is community with God and community with others. In this social media driven society, I believe it’s important now more than ever before to foster great face-to-face relationships and to get some friends. Healthy, goal oriented, loving, real, like minded, and truth giving friends.
If you’ve been a part of the same group of friends for a while take a look at what you all do together and decide if you like where you’re headed. Who do you train with and why? Do they lift you up or bring you down? Is it possible for you to get a new group of people to train and do life with? Or maybe it’s time for you to step up and change where the group is headed.
Be a leader. Set the tone. Choose the truth in love and to invest in friends and mentors.
I know it can be scary to put yourself out there and open up to people. TRUST me. I realize people are messy. But so are you. Get some friends, some good ones.
It’s worth it.
YAWYAW,
Lindsey Nadler
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