Hey 👋🏽,

It slipped right out of my hands!

5yo saved the balloon for weeks. It was a party favor he received as the only guest at his bff’s COVID proof birthday party, a fleeting glimpse of what life on the other side of this might look like.

I watched him run after it as it floated further and further up and away.

He turned towards me as I approached him. I reached out to comfort him and he brushed me off.

It’s ok. There are more balloons.

I thought of this moment when I tucked him into bed last night. Somehow, the lost balloon and the icy emergency that sent my heart into my throat didn’t make his top headlines when I asked him

What were the worst and best parts of your day?

Instead, we discussed the possibility of going back to school; not back really, but to a new school with new friends and new beginnings in the fall.

It’s hard to make new friends

he said quietly.

Is it?

I asked.

Who made thumbs up signs for the movers and made sure they had water and knew where everything went in the new house?
Me.
And who walks up to every neighbor to see how their day is going and to say something nice about each person?
Me.
Who introduces himself to new kids at the playground every time we go?
Me. Ok. Thanks momma.

There are stories we tell ourselves about what we can and can’t do. Most of the time, they’re just stories; self limiting beliefs. Sometimes the best way to remember all that you can do is to remember all that you have already done. A scarcity mindset chases after the lost balloon. An abundance mindset appreciates what was and continues moving forward, cultivating what’s next with faith and perseverance. We always have a choice but sometimes we need that reminder from a good friend or a family member or a person who shares words of encouragement without realizing how much you need to hear them.

I got that reminder last week when I found out that Zengo, the cycling studio I’ve taught hundreds of classes at, is closing. While the brand is no longer, our community lives on. A day after the announcement, Madie Jones reached out, turning this lost balloon moment into an opportunity. Thanks to Madie’s hard work, we’re launching an independent DMV fitness collective to continue to bring online workouts to the community while raising money for local charities. Follow us on Instagram and sign up to ride with me as we start fresh, start new, start again.

I see you, I love you, let’s sweat together soon,