I specifically set aside time tonight to finally hang some of the art and pictures that have been leaning up against my walls for the last few weeks, but, since I’ve just realized that I apparently don’t own a hammer, I think I’ll blog instead.  I guess if I’m going to take the glass-half-full approach, I now have sudden and unforeseen extra time which I can wholly appreciate.

This weekend is the first in a really long time where I don’t ‘have’ to be anywhere or do anything in particular, so naturally, by tomorrow at 9am I’m going to be attempting to do ALL THE THINGS. But that’s okay, because I can, and I can do it in my own sweet time, thoughtfully and completely. But lets be honest, I’ll be at MADabolic CLT tomorrow morning sweating out the residual effects of this past week.

My two major focuses right now are MADabolic Charlottesville and MADabolic Charleston.  We’re gearing up for some pretty amazing things at both locations — obviously OPENING in Charleston is a pretty big deal and comes with a substantial amount of work to spread the word and get connected, but Charlottesville is on my mind perhaps even more — for many reasons.

There is nothing better than a Friday afternoon in Charlottesville when the weather is warm and the sweet, small, little city is alive.  I love that town so much it hurts, and in a way that can only be fully understood by those who have shared a period of their life there as well.  Having MADabolic Charlottesville nestled into the heart of the city, building it’s own amazing community and small piece of the 3-mile world, is something I am so grateful for.  It has changed my affinity for the city — or really just re-focused it.  And while it is great to bring a new concept that is changing lives from a fitness perspective, the community itself is changing our lives and building something more substantial than any other community I’ve been a part of.  People you would never expect to hang out are connecting, becoming friends, and developing a deep appreciation for each person’s individual journey and efforts.  They are championing each other’s causes and becoming family in a way that can be too rare. You don’t see that everywhere – trust me, I’ve been places.  It’s a product of the city we are in, the incredible people that started with us early on, and the MAD boots on the ground building it.

There was a great article that came out this week from C-Ville weekly on MADabolic Cville, exposing some of the nuances and intricacies that make what we do so different in our programming.  It was a great article, and the writer did a great job of capturing the product in a short snapshot — but there was so much more I wish could be captured in words, because it’s the energy, positivity, and connectedness that comes from being a part of it all that makes my heart hurt when I’m away for too long.

This weekend I’ll be cranking out the next 6 months of events for Cville, some MAD invasions (yes, it does sound vague, doesn’t it? that’s because it’s a secret still), and some great rewards and deals for our clients and their friends.  It’s the season of MADness, and while Charleston is the big brass ring at the end of the next 7 weeks, Charlottesville is still my heart.

That being said, I’m heading back to the ‘ville next weekend and staying through our friend Cristina’s 28toLife Seminar at MADabolic Cville on Saturday, March 8th.  

I’ll definitely be pumping this more over the next week.  I think it’s important to share my personal experience and also highlight some of the stories and testimonials that Cristina has shared from clients (who are friends of mine) that have had major transformations.

That (all) being said, bring on the weekend.  I’ve been waiting a long time for it, and it feels so good.