Welcome to Wednesday Word, a monthly linkup for everyone, not just health and fitness bloggers. On the first Wednesday of every month you will have a single word prompt to write about. Let your imagination run free and share with your readers your interpretation of that word, or simply use it as inspiration for your post. Today’s word is involvement… I’d love to have you link up, and if you do, please remember to follow my six simple rules.
Involve
To engage as a participant
~ Merriam-Webster
My involvement with our local Moms RUN This Town (MRTT) chapter has been an unexpected blessing. When my good friend and fellow Cruiser, Amanda, started running with another running group, I kidded her about two-timing our running friends. When Amanda asked if I wanted to join her for a run with her new MRTT friends, I though, “Why not!”
Little did I know on that cold and dark morning three years ago while running on the icy gravel trail that I’d soon become very involved with the very same group of running friends Amanda so enjoyed. Since that day, I’ve maintained my involvement with the Cruisers as president and chief volunteer; however, I’ve also added volunteer responsibilities with our MRTT chapter. Since joining I’ve helped out whenever needed and remain the person behind our Twitter and Instagram accounts – shhhh don’t tell anyone it’s me! 😉
Perhaps it’s not true for everyone, but I find for anything I do, the satisfaction I get back is directly correlated to my time invested; and my consistent commitment and involvement in my two running groups has paid me back immensely.
It’s not just been running connections that I’ve made with like-minded people, but it’s been something much deeper. I’ve become close friends with some of the wonderful people I’ve met in both groups. Whether it’s meeting for a run, grabbing a quick bite to eat, or getting together for a social event, my time with these friends is always well spent. I’m always learning from them and hope that they feel the same way about their time with me.
The same can certainly be said of my involvement with my ever-growing blogging friends (I’m looking at you, Wednesday Word readers and linker-uppers). The time I spend connecting while reading other bloggers’ posts and replying to comments on my own posts, keeps me connected to a whole new group of running friends I never dreamed possible.
Yes, my willingness to invest my time and become involved makes my life better and brings me satisfaction!
In what are you involved and does it give you satisfaction?
Grab My Button!
Next Month’s Wednesday Word: Derail
I love reading about your cruisers and MRTT group. They surely are an awesome blessing!
My two local running groups that I got involved with started out strong but quickly faded. I hope to find some new running buddies this winter.
Tamieka recently posted…Happy Birthday to me!!!
It’s really true. We hear “you get what you pay for” about things we buy, but I think “we get what we give” with things we do. I love the friendships forged over running!
Coco recently posted…~Namaste~
“We get what we give” says it all, Coco!
I agree, Tamieka, my running friends are a true blessing! I hope you find a group of running friends, too.
Oh, blogging totally gives me satisfaction on so many levels! It’s been so wonderful to interact with like minded people (if mostly virtually). And running itself? Definitely satisfying (when it’s not frustrating). The furkids (same story). Baking. I would bake every day if I could maintain my weight doing it!
Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy recently posted…Running: the dance of love
Yes to “baking every day if I could maintain my weight!” I love baking, but unfortunately, I love eating freshly baked goodies even more and have zero self control around them.
There is so much truth in this! Giving of ourselves ALWAYS is a win-win 😉
Kimberly Hatting recently posted…2017 – Focusing on FUN
Thanks, Kim!
I could not agree with you more about the correlation between involvement and satisfaction. I find that when I am involved with more groups, I am happier. Especially when that group is working towards a cause. It’s like you are a part of something bigger. And you are helping make the wold a better place.
Being a part of something bigger is a draw for many people, myself included. 🙂
I’ve gone from being a solo runner to connecting to friends, and I’m so much happier for it!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…New Year, New Dilemma: Why I’m Not Setting Running Goals This Year
Don’t running friends make runs go by so much more quickly?
Well you know i am all about the MRTT love!
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner recently posted…How to survive the gym in January-Exercise a little patience
I knew you would be! 😀
Although it is logistically hard for me to run with others very often, I do like the connections I’ve gained through my blog. I could never have imagined three years ago that I would have met so many wonderful ladies both in person and virtually from my little HoHo Runs. You can definitely have friends you’ve never met (talking to you Deb!). Thanks for the Wednesday Word linkup. I’m going to try to be faithful with my monthly post!
I do love the friends I’ve met through blogging – both the ones I’ve been able to meet in person at races and the ones I have met. 😉
I look forward to seeing your take on our Wednesday Word each month if it fits into your schedule! Hopefully, monthly will help people feel like they can participate more easily even though it was never an all or nothing deal.
What a great group you found! I’ll have to check out my local MRTT.
I’ve heard that some MRTT chapters aren’t nearly as active as ours, but I think you get out of it what you put into it. Hopefully, yours is active as well. If not, perhaps you can light a fire under the members by organizing some group runs. 🙂
L-O-V-E this, lady! Priorities, priorities.
Thank you, Tiffany!
I so agree with this that you get back what you put into it, things like this though I think it comes back two folds!
You are so very lucky to have these groups to run with and they are so active.
I love running with my friends on the weekend but our schedules don’t match up for week day runs. But I have had company the past few days with my daughter. Fingers crossed she keeps it up.
Hope to get more involved too in this link up Debbie, I’ve missed it and hopefully, some changes will allow me more time for this.
Tricia Vaughn recently posted…The Big Reveal Goals for 2017
I hope that your new running buddy sticks with it so you’ll have company on your runs!