Week 29: Hyping Up Hype Fitness

Third spaces. Have you heard about them and their importance for a well-balanced, full, inclusive, fun life? They've been around forever, but were first labeled in the 1990s as the internet (and hours in a workweek) grew. 

What is a third space? It's a place outside of home or work where you regularly connect with others you share an interest or activity with. 

Mine is Hype Fitness in Mequon, Wisconsin. 

As long-time followers already know, I was a homeschooling mom for 17 years. I did some freelance writing and event/project coordination during those years and got my real estate license towards the end as my independent youngest grew and entered school. I've been self-employed for nearly 20 years now, and let me tell you, no one needs a third space more than someone who works from home where the first two spaces (home and work) already overlap. 😅

It was ten years ago when I realized something was missing from my life. I didn't know what it was until I found it: my third space: a kickboxing gym. 

I grew up with a bodybuilding father who taught me simply by example that working out is a regular part of your day, same as brushing your teeth or showering. (Dad, I've told you before, but it deserves repeating, THANK YOU for this gift!!)

With this model of life set out for me, I have always lifted weights and ran and engaged in other physical activities whenever possible, but I hadn't had a routine place to enjoy them alongside others after leaving college....until I met the owner of my current gym, Jordan, and loads of other amazing people in my fitness community. 

The people at Hype Fitness are diverse but inclusive, badass but caring, competitive but cheer each other on. There are members of all shapes, sizes, colors, and ages. But all are incredible. And Jordan is obviously a huge part of that. 

"Look at what you've built!," I routinely tell him when someone gets outside of their comfort zone, accomplishes a goal, or supports another member. 

"You did great today!" or "Thanks for pushing me!" are things members tell each after every workout. 

And I give the sincerest of "Thank you"s to Jordan on my way out the door each day. 

I say all of this to set the stage for week 29's Kindness Countdown activity: I gave Jordan a little care package that included two tubs of protein powder, a gift certificate for him and his sweet and gorgeous wife to go out, and a toy for their dog (who is known to visit the gym from time to time 😍). 

It was a feeble attempt to show my appreciation for everything he's given me and my fellow members in his creation of our third space. 

Let me know if you ever want to join me at Hype for a workout! I promise future health and friends and fun will be waiting for you!!

(Check out some other videos from the years past in my Instagram carousel!)

Week 28: California Wildfire Emergency Relief

 

Like everyone else, those affected by the California fires were on my heart last week (they're nestled next to everyone still suffering in North Carolina), and so my kindness activity was centered around that, from a distance. 

I spent quite a lot of time on my laptop and then took to my phone to find credible places to donate to those in need, and those personally heavy on my heart. 

As the daughter of a firefighter, I wanted to be sure the crews on the ground and in the sky had all the equipment needed to be safe and food/snacks to keep morale as high as possible. I spoke to a woman at the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation who assured me the moneys donated were going to meet those very things. 

Next, I scrolled through some shelters who were thoughtfully moving homeless animals to a further radius to free up space to care for pets and creatures harmed in the fires. I ended up donating to LA Animal Services. 

I called some of the offices in the Pacific Southwest District affiliated with a church in my town. I was directed to their website to make a donation where I clicked on a few links and saw a page listing the various ways members had been affected by the fires and what their needs were before making a donation. 

Lastly, I purchased a tee shirt designed by Kingsland Editions that is giving all proceeds to Mutual Aid LA Network that is working with multiple organizations to help everyone where they are in these uncertain times with fridges full of food throughout the city, stands to hand out donations, and more. 

I pray the donations I made make their way to those who need them most.

Week 27: Cold Cart Retrieval

Wisconsin is currently experiencing a pretty severe cold snap. On Saturday, when I was walking out to my car after the gym in single digit weather, I thought about the retail workers who would be responsible for bringing in the carts from the parking lots that day. Then I thought about all the shoppers who probably would be more likely than usual not to want to walk their carts to their corrals. 

And that's when I finalized last week's activity idea. 

I went home, showered, waited for my hair to dry, and in the early afternoon, when I figured it would be most busy, my boyfriend and I headed out to help clean up some parking lots. 

We started at the Disney World of Saturday errands, Costco, where we found quite a lot of carts needing to be escorted to their resting places. 

One man finished loading his car and asked "Are you taking carts? Because I have one for you." I told him I was. He said, "No, I was kidding; I can't expect you to clean up for me." When I told him I was heading in that direction anyway he acquiesced and said, "You're a real good one; Santa is really going to reward you next year." 😄

After Costco we headed to Target, where we kept on driving because the lot was clear. 

Last up was Meijer, where we were once again put to work, but not nearly as necessarily as Costco. Mark headed to the far side to pick up a handful of carts left in the lot, and I headed to the front walkway to collect all the carts that didn't make it to one of the doors. 

On the way home I told Mark about a lady I talked to in the Costco parking lot (who, for the record, didn't think twice about taking the cart from in front of their car into the store with them) that said she had recently read an article that explained the shopping cart is a litmus test for society. 

I just looked it up and thought it was worth sharing, to at least think about next time you're at the store contemplating returning your cart of leaving it for someone else to take care of. 

Here is it for those interested:

“The shopping cart is the ultimate litmus test for whether a person is capable of self-governing. To return the shopping cart is an easy, convenient task and one we all recognize as the correct, appropriate thing to do. To return the shopping cart is objectively right. There are no situations other than dire emergencies in which a person is not able to return their cart. Simultaneously, it is not illegal to abandon your shopping cart. Therefore, the shopping cart presents itself as the apex example of whether a person will do what is right without being forced to do it.”

“No one will punish you for not returning the shopping cart, no one will fine you, or kill you for not returning the shopping cart. You gain nothing by returning the shopping cart. You must return the shopping cart out of the goodness of your own heart. You must return the shopping cart because it is the right thing to do. Because it is correct. The Shopping Cart Theory, therefore, is a great litmus test on whether a person is a good or bad member of society.”

Week 26: Grocery Gift Card Giveaway

Can you believe this little project counting down to my 50th birthday is already halfway over?! The past 26 weeks have flown by and in just six months I'll be entering another decade of life. Unreal! 

Last week's activity wasn't a new one for my regular life, but rather a routine one I've built into my professional life since starting my career as a real estate agent in Milwaukee years ago. 

After each transaction closes that I've had the privilege of working with buyers and sellers on, I purchase a $50 gift card at a large grocery store and gift it to someone who looks like it would be helpful. 

I have given them to young families with many mouths to feed, full carts when I sense people are stocking up on paydays, elderly people, etc over the years. 

Last week I purchased two gift cards after my last two closings of the year and walked the aisle in front of the registers to survey the checkouts. 

The first family that caught my eye included a mother, her daughter, and two grandchildren. AKA, a pretty fully cart. I approached the daughter and said, "Hi! I have a $50 gift card I'd like to give you to help with your groceries this week." She said, "Really?" I said, "Yep!" and handed it to her. She said "Wow, unbelievable! Thank you so much!" as her mom turned around to see what was happening. The daughter filled her in as I wished them well and walked away. 

The second recipient looked like a proud woman with two children. As she loaded her groceries on the conveyer belt I handed the gift card directly to the Woodman's employee and said, "Here's a $50 gift card to apply to her bill." He looked at me questioningly. I repeated myself, smiled at the kids and their mom and wished them a Happy New Year as I turned to leave the store.

I love my job. I am so thankful I can support my three kids by helping clients shop for their family homes and investment properties (that help care for their families). 

Being able to share my blessings with others is a gift I will never take for granted. 

Week 25: It's An Elf's Life For Me

It's Christmas week, and to help prepare and spread some holiday cheer, I volunteered to be an elf in my town's much-loved Santa house last week Monday night. 

To help look the part, I ordered an elf costume from Amazon, which my teenagers found quite entertaining. Even my best friend added "heckle Shannon" to her calendar that night. 😂

As someone who had always told her kids the truth about Santa (I'm proud to say my kids never ruined the "magic" for other kids), it was a new experience for me to see all of the family's visit Santa Claus. It was one I enjoyed!

Like most things for children in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, the process of reserving a spot to get in to see the Big Guy is a timely one (the line starts hours in advance) because the slots are highly sought after. But those who get in sure are treated to a special experience!

There's an elf outside to confirm your reservation time, another elf just inside the door (me, last week Monday) who greets you when you enter and assists the Clauses (Mrs. Claus was home tending to the reindeer while I was there), and another elf at the exit door who makes sure the kids have their treats on the way out. 

I had a great time listening to the kids' request to Santa! Some of my favorites were a boy who asked for a dog (his parents' faces were priceless), a girl who said she wanted a cat tail (Santa thought she meant the plant that grows in/near water), and the siblings who tattled on each other for not being as well behaved as they said they were. Ha!

I'll for sure sign up for another volunteer spot next year! But I'm going to have to up my elf game, because some of the longtime volunteers are really decked out; I hope to exude magic like them next year!!

Week 24: Candy Canes on Cars

Last week, I kicked off my annual December tradition of handing out candy canes to strangers and hanging them on door handles in parking lots while out running errands. 

I did the math and realized I've been doing this for 23 years already, after a trip to Phoenix to visit my cousin. She had some candy canes in her car and gave them to appreciative strangers at the gas station. I saw how simple it was, how happy the recipients were by the gesture, and the tradition was born.

This year, the candy canes have been distributed in Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, and Colorado as I drove across the states last week. Just today, back at home, I asked the young man who took my cart in the Meijer parking lot if he'd like one and he excitedly said, "Sure! Thank you!" 

It's fun thinking about my kids only knowing a life of handing out candy canes in December, that it's a total normal thing for them. 

"You need to replenish your stock" my 16-year-old told me this afternoon.

And she's right, because we still have two weeks left in the year!

Week 23: 10" Cut For a Cause

A whole new woman is writing the summary of last week's project: I got a substantial haircut to donate 10" of my hair to donate to Children with Hair Loss, an organization that provides human hair replacement at no cost to children facing medically-related hair loss (cancer treatments, alopecia, trichotillomania, burns, etc.). 

Their mission to help empower children to feel whole again by making hair replacement available, especially to those financially challenged and might otherwise not have a means to obtaining the hair they desire, is one my family and I have been drawn to many times. My son and one of my daughters have previously donated and this was my third time giving to this worthy organization. 

My longtime stylist, Leah from Beauty on Bridge in Grafton, Wisconsin, once again nailed the haircut, giving me just the cut I wanted after a year of thoughtful trims knowing my goal at the end of this year. And during that appointment we discussed my desire to work with my hair's natural wavy texture going forward now that the weight from the length wouldn't be pulling it down. 

I'm still adjusting to last combing my hair in the shower before rinsing out the conditioner, applying different products using a scrunching application, spritzing my hair with water in the morning to bring the wave back after sleeping on it, and of course the shorter length in general (I've definitely wasted some shampoo and conditioner this week as I've gotten used to have less hair 😅). 

I hope somewhere soon there's a child who gets to go through an adjustment period of having more hair to care for. I hope any empowerment they may feel with the outer change will help their inner beauty and self-confidence shine brighter than ever.