These really resonated. The Collective Joy is so true. When you get together and then just cheer each other on is fabulous. There was one section where it talked about how you hear someone's voice and you feel at home. When I heard that, I immediately called each of my sisters and my best friend to relay that. Then the chapter on moving and what music does...my playlists...need I day more?🎵🎵🎧

I have read the first two chapters of the book Coach suggested. As a kid I was active, wandering the hills around the area where we lived, playing the the creek behind our house, building a dam on the creek to deepen it in one area. There were no "sports" for girls in my school years unless you count cheerleading. But, I marched miles in band every year. I hiked all over the mountains hunting with my dad and later husband. I didn't "join" an excercise group until after I retired. I have found I enjoy the activilty and the socialization that comes with the group.

Like the author, I have had a deep connection to exercise as long as I could remember. It started as loving to play outside, climbing, running, jumping and riding bikes. Grew through athletics both team sports and imitating my father when he started running local races and marathons and blossomed into a career both as an athlete and personal trainer. I am compiling my highlights but wanted to put up some talking points. Here's a summary from Cathy of Chapter One to get you started... Summary: Chapter 1 of The Joy of Movement Core Idea Movement is not just something we should do for health—it is something we are biologically wired to enjoy, connect through, and find meaning in. The modern problem isn’t that exercise is hard. It’s that we’ve been taught to see movement as: - punishment - obligation - a tool for weight loss - or a chore tied to discipline Instead of what it actually is:👉 A natural source of joy, connection, and psychological well-being Key Concepts from Chapter 1 1. The “Exercise = Suffering” Myth is Learned - Many people associate movement with: gym class trauma punishment workouts weight loss pressure - This creates a mental barrier, not a physical one 👉 The issue isn’t your body—it’s your conditioning 2. Humans Are Wired for Movement Pleasure - Movement triggers: dopamine (motivation/reward) endorphins (feel-good) endocannabinoids (calm + euphoria) This is what people call:👉 “runner’s high” (but it applies to many forms of movement) 3. Joy Comes From the Experience, Not the Outcome People who stick with movement long-term: - focus on how it feels - not just what it does (fat loss, aesthetics, etc.) 👉 Outcome-driven = inconsistent👉 Experience-driven = sustainable 4. Movement is a Form of Connection Movement connects us to: - our bodies - other people - shared effort and rhythm This is why: - group fitness works - sports build bonds - synchronized movement feels powerful 5. Redefining “Exercise” Changes Everything

Staying useful is as important to aging well as any fancy new drug, fitness routine, or diet plan. https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/ben-franklin-found-the-secret-to-happy-aging-275-years-ago-modern-psychology-agrees/91286887

How You Finish the Year Defines How You Start the Next! Summer’s over. The barbecues, vacations, and lazy afternoons are behind you. The air is cooling, the days are shortening, and the year is winding down. But here’s the reality: the game isn’t over. Too many people treat the last three months of the year like a throwaway. They coast, they let distractions pile up, and they tell themselves, “I’ll start fresh in January.” That’s how average minds think. But you’re not average. You’re here because you’re hungry for more—and champions play until the final whistle. You’ve still got time and you’ve still got fight. The fourth quarter is where games are won. The scoreboard only matters when the clock runs out—and there’s still time left on yours. The question is: will you coast, or will you EARN IT? The Fourth Quarter Advantage Think about it. This moment in the year is unique. - The noise of summer is gone. Vacations, parties, and constant distractions? Behind you. - The chaos of the holidays hasn’t hit yet. You’ve got weeks of open space before the world turns into a frenzy of shopping, family gatherings, and year-end obligations. - You still have time on the clock. Enough time to move the needle, crush goals, and set yourself up with momentum. The fourth quarter is an opportunity window. Most people waste it. That’s exactly why it can be your edge. Why Finishing Strong Matters Momentum is everything. The way you finish the year bleeds into the way you start the next one. If you coast, you’ll hit January 1st needing to warm up, get back on track, and rebuild momentum. But if you attack the fourth quarter, you’ll hit the new year already running. No warm-up needed—you’ll already be in motion while everyone else is still trying to shake off the holiday hangover. Finishing strong creates confidence. It reminds you that your goals matter, that you have control, and that time isn’t an excuse—it’s an asset. How to Lock in the Fourth Quarter Mindset Here’s how you flip the switch and dominate these last months: