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Together, we’ll dive deep and find the strength to never give up because Great Things Take Time.

Coming at you with love today ❤️ 

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Here's what's in today's email

• February Challenge

• Does It Have To Be Your Identity?

• Moments with Maurice

• What's Got Me Smilin'

 🌸 February

Challenge🌸 

There was a theme this week of getting off our devices and into the real world. (The irony is never lost on me that this is coming through email on your device.) On Instagram, there was a Valentine’s Day poem about getting off your phone and a clip of my response to mean comments and the fuel they bring. This weekend’s challenge was about finding things you love for your mental health.

I focus on these things asa way to showcase when the digital world isn’t conducive to the love we want to spread. We are frustrated with negativity in the world, but we aren’t always open to reflecting on the little things in our day that we’re choosing that have a butterfly effect.

Have I nailed this? Absolutely not! Let me tell you, it’s easy to write this down, it’s even harder to put it into motion. I know I need these 28 days of love, and I’m right beside you putting in the work.

Read the full details of each day of the challenge here and head to the @greatthingswith_adrian  Instagram account for daily reminders.

Does It Have To Be Your Identity?

As many of you know, back in 2023, I was out for a considerable amount of time for surgery and recovery on my arm. This meant at least eight weeks of recovery with no lifting, running, biking, brisk walk, or even pushing a door open too hard. Pretty much no movement at all. 

This meant that my career, my hobby, and my stress relief were on hold. So much of who I felt I was as a person and my identity were pushed away from me. If I wanted to heal after the surgery, I had to be careful about what I did. 

Does the thought of no movement for eight weeks make you start to squirm? Can you imagine your life without your daily sweat? If not, hold onto that thought for a moment, we’ll come back to it. 

Adrian of old would have probably had a panic attack. “Six weeks of no working out?! What am I going to do?”

There would have been a ton of cross-training and probably pushing the boundaries a little. “Well my doctor said no heavy lifting with my arms, but he didn’t say anything about my fingers… ”

I knew that my body needed the rest to heal properly. I would heal faster by taking a break than by half-assing things. While I couldn’t do certain specific physical things, there was a world of things out there that I could do. Had I chosen to, I no doubt could have found alternative movement options, but for once in my life, I relished taking a step back from something I felt always had to be a part of my life, whether I liked it or not. I used the opportunity to figure out what else fills my cup and fulfills me.

It raised the question: If I was never again able to move in the capacity that I had, what would I do with my life? Who would I be?

Go back to that thought of not being able to get a workout in. What do you consider part of your identity? This thing doesn’t have to be movement, it could be a hobby, your job, being a parent, or any number of things. What if tomorrow that was gone? You had an injury, your kids grew up and moved out, or you were fired. Who would you be then? How would you spend your days? What happens when your identity is so wrapped up in something, that without it, you don’t know how to fill your time? 

During this break, I found a love for cooking and photography, among other things. I leaned into meditation for help with my mental health. At the end of my break, I had a new understanding as to who I was as a person and what I wanted from my life. It made me less afraid of the things life could throw at me. Joy and purpose are limitless. There are so many paths to each.

You are a multidimensional being. You are not your race time, your calories burned, the money you’ve made, the people you care for, the food you eat, the weight you can lift, the items in your home, or the hours you work. 

I can guarantee you that on my tombstone, it will not read, “Here lies Adrian Williams, he could deadlift 500 lbs and never skipped a shoulder day.”

Who are you when you lose the things that you love?

Moments with Maurice

If you only pause to reflect on your life for one moment today, do it now.

Every experience in your life is building you up.

Last Wednesday, I shared with The Collective stories of my time as a doorman. Going from personal training to manning the front desk of a building in the same day taught me a lot about what direction I wanted my life to head in, and what my priorities were. It also gave me many lessons with how to interact with people that I still use to this day. I was just starting out, I had to learn from everything I was experiencing.

Being a beginner is not something to be ashamed of. If you’re starting over, starting at a new level, or just getting started, figure out how you can build on every lesson and experience. It’s transferrable to everything else in your life.

Because no matter what, there is always something to smile about.

How Are Your Pores Doing?

Mine clearly needed a refresh. Did you know you can do other things for your face besides just washing it? 😅 

L.A. Fitness Trip

Connecting with old and new friends. The people who support us are the ones who deserve the most celebrations.

Planning Some Diabolical Classes

If you’re cursing my name, I feel like I’m doing it right. 👿

How Lucky Are We?

I can’t stress to you how much the sunrises make me smile. Every day, the sun wakes up and puts on a show for us. It’s beauty that doesn’t come with any requirements or exceptions. How lucky are we that we get to experience this?

Remember:

-Adrian