Friends! 2019 is SO close! While this is a time of reflection for a lot of people, to create goals and resolutions for the new year, my hope to y'all is that just as much time -- if not more -- is spent really celebrating the accomplishments and wins you accumulated in 2018. It's so easy to reflect on what we DIDN'T do or accomplish. But imagine what might happen if we start to add up all of the positive things that DID happen! On that note, please let me indulge in some of TruFit's biggest highlights of 2018! Let's take a moment to look at some of our favorite white boards of 2018, shall we? I'll start back in 2012 when IzzyFit started training at the TruFit, back when the super-wonderful Meg Buckland owned the gym. What I loved the most about the space was how down-to-earth and friendly people were, from the trainers to clients, from our cleaning maestro Arturo to our towel dude Mike. It really did always feel like Cheers, where everybody knows your name and they’re always glad you came. But instead of beer we serve squats! When I took over in December of 2016, my biggest concern was that this really special feeling might go away. 2016 saw a handful of trainers move on and, with them, some of their clients. We’ve had a lot of new awesome trainers start these last two years and with them, new clients! And through it all, especially as I write this, the biggest highlight for me looking back over these last twelve months has been this community we’ve been able to cultivate at the gym: Where everybody knows your name (for the most part, we really try!…), and we’re always glad you came. Where we ask each other how our kids, partners, pets and parents are and really do care about the answer. Some of our parents are even CLIENTS this gym! I am grateful every single day for the TruFit trainers and all of the clients that walk through the door. BUT THERE'S MORE! Here are other super awesome highlights from this past year: We hosted three drives this year: A clothing drive benefitting ESCCA, the YWCA and Family Focus! A diaper drive benefitting the Bundled Blessings Diaper Pantry! A sneaker drive for Reuse-a-Shoe! We hosted a women’s self defense workshop for the YWCA! Thanks, IMPACT and our awesome instructors Michelle and Aaron! We threw (and Symphony taught!) a dance party at Evanston SPACE to raise money for Evanston Scholars! Marco hosted a boot camp and taco party (!!!) to raise money for St. Mary's Services! We held a pushup challenge throughout October to benefit the Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force! In all, we raised $3336 and volunteered 75 hours. And while I know some believe it's tacky to talk about money raised and hours spent volunteering, I do this to demonstrate the power of community and that small steps taken collectively can make big changes. Health and strength have a greater purpose. Thank you to everyone who participated, planned and got their friends involved! TruFit got to host a continuing education workshop for trainers and non-trainers alike with Original Strength. It was a HUGE honor for me to be Dani's assistant and a thrill to have 18 other people in the room who wanted to learn new ways to move and feel better. Fingers crossed that we host another workshop in 2019! Stay tuned :) We trainers met quarterly this year so we could all get on the same page about TruFit opportunities and issues and take time to learn from each other. Even though I know no one likes meetings (grumble grumble), I’m adding them to MY list of highlights because, it’s only thanks to the trainers’ dedication and commitment to their own businesses and the space they train in that we can better serve our clients. Plus, it was fun having a winter and summer party and seeing each other outside the gym. A LOT of TruFit babies we born this year! Trainer Frank and wife Rebel welcomed baby Kace. Client Maria and husband JC welcomed baby Matias. And client Mollie and husband Ricky welcomed baby Alex (our own Norm!) who often works out with mom! Needless to say, there was a lot to celebrate in 2018 and you can trust that we'll work hard to create moments to cheer for in 2019. We hope you will be right along side us.
Cheers to a health-filled 2019!
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