For the last 5 months I have been dedicated to finding a healthier way of life that would take me outdoors and also help me to grow my friendship group in our local community. It wasn’t easy.
We moved from a town, where we had lived for 12 years, to the tiny seaside village of Kommetjie in the Western Cape of South Africa in June 2020, mid lockdown. All our streets were empty and neighbours bundled into their houses. Winter added to the isolation. How do you meet new friends and find community when you’re not allowed to interact or even walk down the street?
Day 1 - 15 Jan (Hike in the rain)
Slowly the restrictions lifted as Summer approached and we were finally allowed to go to the beach, walk outside and life seemed to achieve a level of normalcy. Still, meeting new friends was hard.
Day 2 - 18 Jan (bootcamp on the boardwalk)
January 2021 brought a few new year resolutions on the community Facebook group where I noticed an invitation for a ladies Summer Squad bootcamp group. This was totally up my alley and actually made me excited to join. Not only could I be more intentional about my exercise, but it would give me the opportunity to meet some local ladies.
Day 3 - 20 Jan ( Bootcamp on the Grass)
And you know what? It’s been AWESOME!!! This group of ladies, some younger and some older, have become my Sisterhood. They are becoming friends, mentors, allies and the place I want to be 3 mornings week. It hasn’t been a long amount of time yet but I can feel the difference that making news friends has made in me (and the aches of hardcore exercise).
Day 4 - 22 Jan (bootcamp on the grass)
Can I encourage you to look outward, be persistent in finding your people, and then stick to it. I’ll have to post an update in 6 month or a years time, but I’m pretty sure this group of ladies will still be going strong and bringing each other along on the journey.
Day 5 - 25 Jan (walk up mountain side and run down to bootcamp)
Thank you to the sisterhood of the Summer Squad for welcoming me and making my life richer and healthier.
Day 6 - 27 Jan (killer bootcamp on the grads, dead!)... today...