Blog Post By Jen Doriott
Everyone at Vitality has gotten to hear the one-sided, biased view from only me. I rant about certain topics that I feel are important but rarely do you get to hear from a 3rd party with no skin in the game. Our own Jen Doriott sent me this post that talks about what Vitality has done for her. Pretty amazing stuff, thanks for sharing Jen!
The Family I Got to Choose
Aside from the great workout I get at CFV the thing I love most is the community. We hear that all the time about CrossFit being so much more than just a workout, and that it is the community that really keeps us coming back to have our you-know-what kicked every day. I know we all feel this way, but I wanted to share my personal reason why this community means so much to me.
Vitality has greatly helped cement North Carolina as my home. A year and a half ago I packed as much of my belongings as I could into my Honda Civic, put my dog in the front seat, and drove from Minnesota, where I was born and raised, to Charlotte where I didn’t know a single soul.
Moving halfway across the country, away from my entire family, to a place I’d visited once, and where I don’t know anyone might sound crazy, and I guess it sort of is, but to me there was no other option. To stay in Minnesota would mean a lifetime of regret. Turns out moving to Charlotte was the second best decision I’ve ever made – second only to deciding to become a chiropractor.
I wanted to do crossfit because I knew it would take my fitness to a whole new level. I joined Vitality because after looking at all the other gyms it was easy to see there was something special about CFV. I actually researched boxes when I was still a student and living in MN. I knew I was going to join Vitality long before I even moved down here… again, that might sound crazy, but I guess crazy might be how I roll!
My first class was with the 9:30 ladies. I LOVE my 9:30 ladies! Aside from a great workout they also provide plenty of entertainment… obnoxious, ridiculous, and many times inappropriate entertainment. Amy, Haley and Kim are my crew! These three are always there, day in and day out, to push me and encourage me, and I’m always there to tell them to put more weight on their bar ☺
I’m one of the younger (okay probably the youngest) women in that class, but it doesn’t matter. Despite our age and life stage differences we can all hang out, converse and connect without forcing anything. No matter what class I go to there is always someone I can connect with as we share a platform. It doesn’t matter how old we are or what we do for a living; we have CrossFit in common, and being a CrossFitter isn’t just something you do physically, but mentally as well – it’s a part of your character. I think we all connect because we are dedicated, hard-working, happy, stable, genuinely good people who care about our quality of life and getting the most out of it. With that sort of foundation it’s hard not to get along with everyone!
Back to the ladies… to see all of these moms lifting barbells, cranking out pull ups, and pushing themselves to be their best is truly inspiring. I remember watching my mom teach aerobics classes when I was about 4-5 years old. It would be way cooler to remember her doing deadlifts, clean and jerks, box jumps and rope climbs… I love you Mom, but I’m just sayin’!
Seeing Heather Pegram, Tash Hemmingway, Chrissy Santos and Jess do all of this while pregnant is mind blowing to me. You ladies are truly amazing and setting such a great example for your children and the rest of us members, men included.
Let me just briefly talk about how awesome all the guys at the gym are as well. Not a whole lot of ego, at least not like you find in a typical gym setting where dudes walk around drinking muscle milk, doing more talking than lifting, and admiring their biceps as they do curls in the squat rack. Here the guys do serious work, but they don’t get all meat-head about it. It’s not an ego driven endeavor – the guys are as humble, friendly and approachable as the women.
I think this is because all of our intention for working out is different from a standard gym – the goal isn’t as physique oriented which means there is less vanity and more authenticity, and that is refreshing.
This box is filled with so many incredible people. CrossFit has a way of attracting good people, and Vitality seems to attract a whole other level of quality. I have met so many amazing people in this gym and have forged some really great relationships. I think my life would be much lonelier if it weren’t for CFV. It’s been a great way to meet new people and make friends, and not just any people, but quality, hard-working, genuine, happy, healthy people. The connections I’ve formed with the members of Vitality have helped me to grow both personally and professionally, something I was not expecting, but am eternally grateful for.
Vitality is a home away from home for me and the members here are like extended family to me. Without the relationships I’ve forged in here and through my practice I’m not sure I’d want to live in Concord/Charlotte for the rest of my life. Now there is no doubt in my mind that this is my home. Thank you to Jess and Steve for fostering such a great environment where people can better those around them as they better themselves. I’m sure I speak for all your members when I say I love and appreciate the two of you – thank you for everything.
