Let Your Village Carry You!
An honest update from behind the scenes of GfM.
First of all, I want to start with a HUGE thank you.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out with supportive messages, offered me a little break from parenting, carried Luna so I could go on a hike, brought dinner to our house, and to those who are already stepping up to help with childcare in the upcoming weeks.
The GfM village is REAL, and I cannot tell you how grateful I am to be part of it. ❤️
The truth is, I've been feeling pretty exhausted and emotionally drained lately because of some personal challenges that have come my way over the past three months.
I've been processing a lot, trying to put things into perspective, and reminding myself that things are not necessarily as bad as they sometimes feel. But even when life is objectively good, the emotional weight of everything can catch up with you. And it has definitely started affecting my daily wellness routine, which, ironically, makes me feel even worse.
Remember our Back to Routine Aperitivo Night? I made A LOT of jokes about the upcoming year of solo parenting. Well, DAMMIT... I had no idea what I was actually about to face!
Those crackers I burned that morning? Nothing compared to what I've been dealing with over the past three months. 😂
It's not necessarily the physical things I have to do every day that are wearing me down. It's the mental load, the constant decisions, the family responsibilities, the planning, the organizing, and all the little things that never seem to end.
And don't get me wrong: my life is GREAT. My kids are actually pretty amazing. They're wonderful students, they help with the trash, and they even scrub their own toilet! (Although, as you can imagine, I STILL have to remind them to brush their teeth every single night. 😂)
But sometimes, even when everything is going well, life is just a LOT.
When your own wellness routine takes a back seat
As many of you know, I've been waiting for HYROX to finally come to Denver for over two years. I was SO excited to have a new goal to work toward, especially after finding some amazing running buddies and building a lifting routine that I was genuinely enjoying.
Unfortunately, a combination of factors led to a back injury that has brought me back to an old problem I've been working on for 12 years.
This is an injury dating back to my high-level Judo training in 2014, when I had to stop practicing Judo for over a year and undergo several treatments. Thanks to everything I've learned about core training and pelvic health, I was able to navigate my pregnancies and postpartum recoveries without major back issues.
But apparently, my back had other plans!
I've been experiencing significant pain over the past few weeks, and not being able to work out the way I want to is honestly killing my mood.
And because apparently one challenge wasn't enough, our nanny, who has been part of our family for two years and has helped raise Luna since she was just two months old, suddenly quit last Sunday night.
You can imagine how Monday morning went.
I woke up at 2:50 AM, and there was absolutely NO chance of falling back asleep.
Beyond the practical challenges, I felt hurt and betrayed. After spending years learning how to ask for help, trust people, and allow others to support me, I suddenly find myself afraid of asking for help again.
And that's a pretty uncomfortable feeling.
Why I'm sharing this with you
There are a few reasons why I felt the need to open up and share what's happening behind the scenes.
1. A little less support means a little less time behind the scenes of GfM.
Luna will start daycare in January, and I expect my routine to gradually return to normal. Until then, I'll have a little less childcare support.
On the other hand, I'm trying to look at this as an opportunity to spend some extra time with Luna. I basically went back to work when she was just five weeks old, so perhaps this is also a chance to slow down and enjoy some moments with her.
However, I already know I may have less time for some of the behind-the-scenes work that keeps GfM running.
So PLEASE, if I miss something, forget to send you information, or overlook a class-related detail, just text me on WhatsApp. I'll get back to you as soon as I can.
Knowing that you'll reach out if you miss a class, need information, or have a question will give me so much peace of mind.
I want to keep showing up for this community, but I also need to allow myself a little more breathing room.
2. I want you to know that YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Our lives move SO fast.
Between work, kids, partners, family responsibilities, school activities, meals, appointments, and all the invisible things we carry in our heads, it's easy to reach a point where we feel completely depleted.
And I know many of you feel the same way.
Sometimes we feel guilty for being tired because, on paper, our lives are pretty great. We love our families, we love our jobs, and we have so much to be grateful for.
But being grateful doesn't mean we can't be exhausted.
And being strong doesn't mean we have to do everything alone.
If there is one thing I want to remind you of, it's this: PLEASE KEEP MOVING YOUR BODY.
I know I'm a little biased, but movement is one of the best tools we have to take care of ourselves. Not because we need to burn calories, hit a PR, or complete another workout on our to-do list.
But because moving our bodies can help us feel better, clear our minds, recharge our energy, and reconnect with ourselves.
And on the days when motivation is nowhere to be found, that's when our community becomes even more important.
You don't always have to show up strong. Sometimes you just have to show up.
3. I need to put my own training on hold, but I still need YOU!
My back injury means I won't be able to train the way I love for the next several weeks, possibly months.
And honestly? I'm SO SAD about it.
I was finally enjoying a consistent running routine, had found some fantastic running buddies, and was getting stronger with my lifting sessions. I had goals, I had a plan, and I was excited to challenge myself.
Now I need to take a step back, focus on rehabilitation, and remind myself that being an athlete also means knowing when to slow down.
I'll be doing my boring rehab exercises, working on getting stronger again, and trying to practice the patience I so often preach to others. 😉
But PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE keep showing up!
Show up for yourself. Show up for your community. And, if you can, show up for me, too.
Seeing you move, challenge yourself, lift heavier, get stronger, laugh, sweat, and make progress will give me extra motivation to stick to my rehab routine.
I might not be able to join you in every workout right now, but I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines!
A final reminder: It takes a village.
One of the biggest lessons I'm learning right now is that the same person who encourages others to be consistent, strong, and resilient also needs support sometimes.
I don't have it all figured out. I'm not always the perfectly organized mom, the energetic coach, or the disciplined athlete.
I'm just a woman trying to navigate a particularly challenging season while taking care of her family, her business, and herself.
And I'm learning, once again, that asking for help is not a weakness. It's part of being human.
So let's keep building this village. Let's keep checking on each other, offering a helping hand, sharing a meal, carrying a baby, making room for a friend, and reminding one another that we don't have to do everything alone.
Because GfM has never been just about workouts.
It's about showing up, connecting, supporting one another, and creating a space where we can all become a little stronger, physically and mentally.
Thank you for being part of my village.
With lots of strength and energy (and hopefully some better sleep soon!),
Giorgia ❤️
