Well, it’s that time of year when we (and just about every media outlet on the planet) reflects on the year that was. And while 2021 came and went with much less bite than its predecessor did, it still had its share of bark.

As we look to 2022, our ninth year in business, we are still no less amazed by the strength and resiliency of our Daybreak community. We know that we only occupy a small part of your daily lives (1/24th to be precise) but it’s the exponential impact of mental and physical health, wellness, and friendships that makes the whole of our community so much greater than the sum of its parts.

We can personally attest that our family has been made stronger by you and our fitness community, and we hope that you too have experienced that little extra Daybreak “oompf” to get you through these dynamics times.

And with that … here’s what we took away from this crazy year:

WE KNOW HOW TO FIGHT
What we originally thought would be a two to three week shut down, has now turned into ongoing times of uncertainty. From the little things… we fought through the agony of wodding (or rather suffocating) in gross, sweat-ridden masks. To the bigger things… many of us have suffered family losses, or experienced other times of personal difficulty, but we were able to lean on the friendships we’ve built in the gym. We know how to suffer through the uncertainty of a long and painful WOD, and in some weird way we saw that mentality translate over to our fight with this ever-changing pandemic. We may not know what’s around the corner… but we certainly know how to grit our teeth and deal with it.

WE PURSUED OUR BETTER
We showed up. Yup, we made our mental and physical well-being a priority and we continued to kick the snot out of workouts that made us uncomfortable. We kept setting new personal records for the back squat, deadlift and press and for those special Hero WODs. Many of you did your first pull-up, double under, and handstand! In other words, you didn’t stop… you made sure you focused on you, so you could be a better friend, partner, spouse, parent, and/or child to those important to you.

WE SAW FITNESS IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT
We changed our lifestyle habits (nutrition), and we continued to see our biomarkers change for the better. We’ve taken our health, wellness, and fitness into our own hands, and are changing perspectives on what being a “master” (i.e. 35+) looks and feels like. We also saw our younger Daybreakers get stronger, more capable and inspire the elders to keep their asses moving. We all learned that this pandemic has targeted the old, the unhealthy, the obese… and that Daybreak is a critical part of the fight against COVID19 let alone all kinds of ailments.

WE GREW IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE
Our new work-from-home lifestyle let many of you get to the gym more this year as we saw big additions to our 500 and 1000 Club. It also allowed many new faces to find their way to Daybreak adding to an already amazing group of fitness goers. And even though businesses around us struggle to find adequate staff, the Daybreak community attracted some amazing trainers who bring unique personalities and new perspectives … from James’ “woo boos”, to Pancho’s dance warm-ups, to Kevin’s karaoke ice-breakers… we couldn’t be happier to build on the foundation that Mel, Bill and Lisa have created.

WE GAVE BACK
Even when our own lives have been difficult or hectic, we stepped it up for those fighting for equality, those fighting against injustice and for those less fortunate than us. We came together as a family offering love, hope and support and raising awareness for great causes. We put our money and time where our mouths are by providing effort/donations/funds to the Out Foundation and the Navy Seal Foundation. We donated coats, clothes, decorations, and meals to kids, adults, families and neighbors in need. We couldn’t be prouder of our Daybreak family and how we rally to make our surrounding community better.

So as we close out 2021, this year (and honestly every year) we truly are thankful for you and we look forward to another year of pursuing our better together!

Sincerely,
Mel + Rap