One of my favorite things about working at American Family Fitness is how much the owner, Brian Evans, invests in his people. He gives managers the freedom to build in important quality team bonding time, and as a result, we have a monthly All-Staff meeting that brings together all departments and employees of our 75,000 sq. foot facility. Last night was Fredericksburg’s annual Grill and Chill for employees, and it was nothing other than epic.
When I walked behind the building for the grill to find myself in front of a giant adult-sized moon bounce obstacle course, my heart skipped for joy. It was a tangible, child-like moment of elation, the kind you used to get as a kid when your parents first brought you to the pool and you were itching with every ounce of energy you had within to just run and jump right in. It’s not often that as adults we get to re-experience such unabashed excitement, and after re-living it myself last night I realized that we must create more of it in our lives. It brings out something forgotten and something so very youthful about our spirits that we think has disappeared alongside the wearies of adulthood responsibilities, but is in fact still there.
Move like when you were a kid and you WILL have more fun!
I got to race through the moon bounce a few times before the official meeting part of the Grill and Chill started, and, in all honesty, I couldn’t focus at all during the meeting. My only thoughts were on racing through the moon bounce again. It was a feeling of overwhelming distraction that I haven’t felt since I was a child at the pool, not understanding why I wasn’t already in the water having fun. After the meeting was done, the grill turned into a gigantic competition between departments, and it was a night to be remembered. It’s amazing what happens to the human spirit with a little bit of movement, a little bit of bouncing, a little bit of laughter and a whole lot of fun. I went to bed last night feeling twenty years younger than I am, and it was wonderful.
Let your inner child out. Wake up the dormant laughter and excitement that is bursting within you and live in such a way that you are less concerned about what others might be thinking about you (or how they might be judging you; instead, just move your body, have fun, and let your inner kid out.