Y Talk: Focused on Community by Michelle Bell

I am not by nature an outgoing person who often voluntarily engages strangers in conversation. It’s just not who I am. Or maybe I should say it’s not who I used to be. I have gradually felt that protective shell chipping away in the almost 3 years that I have been working here at the Y.

At first I would come to work and go about my business and then rush out the door to begin my mom taxi duties. But it got harder and harder to run out the door when members would stop me to chat or ask how my day was going. I’ll be honest – at first it was uncomfortable. But soon I found myself building time into my schedule for what I used to see as an interruption. I started wrapping up my work a little earlier so I could stop and interact with members before I shifted gears into mom mode. And I found that it was very refreshing.

When most people think of the Y they think of a place to work out or swim or somewhere to send their kids for summer camps. And the Y is that. But what I have learned since I started working here is that the Y isn’t just a place – it is a community of people working out together, swimming together, going to camp together and so much more.

I love going through the lobby and seeing the faithful group of water exercise class members who get together to catch up after a great workout in the pool. It is wonderful to overhear a member checking up on a friend who missed an early morning cycling class. And I love the camaraderie I have experienced personally with the amazing group of people who frequent the early morning CrossFit and TRX® classes in the Functional Fitness Center.

But the sense of community isn’t just for the adults here at the Y. My kids have been on the swim team for many years and have formed friendships that will last a lifetime. My oldest son insists on getting to practice early so he has a chance to connect with his teammates before they hit the pool. It’s a great way for them to debrief after a long day of school and recharge before practice. And that sense of community extends to the coaching staff as well. The coaches often ask the kids how their day went before getting down to business. They care about the kids and who they are, and not just for their performance in the pool.

If you walk past our campers who spend their days at the Y in the summer, you can’t help but see community oozing from them. When you get the chance to spend a significant amount of time with your peers for weeks and sometimes months on end, you are bound to create some life-long friendships.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who came to the Y as a bit of a loner, but I’m happy to say that the sense of community here has transformed me into a more outgoing person. I’m still probably not going to walk up to a complete stranger on the street and strum up a conversation like many people I know would do. But who knows, maybe someday I will. Baby steps.

-By Michelle Bell, Marketing Director​