Rock Steady Camaraderie

I really miss my Rock Steady buddies.  Home with the flu, I don’t just miss the exercise (and wonder when I will be able to get back to it).  I miss the people.  The coaches who work us hard and then work us hard some more.  The volunteers who encourage us, and help us improve our exercise or boxing technique, and keep us from falling over.

But most of all the other boxers.  We give each other encouragement and moral support.  But we’re more.  We’re friends.  We understand better even than our care partners what we’re going through.  What we’ve faced and what we’re facing.  We care about each other.  When somebody isn’t there, they’re missed.  Only here would we be relieved to hear that it’s “only” a back problem, or “only” a knee problem, and not unexpected progression of PD.  We watch each other get a little better.  We watch each other get a little worse.  We see and participate in struggle, overcoming, persistence, heart.

A special word for the caregivers, who come day after day, week after week, often because the boxer can’t drive any more, but also for the support and community.  Special people.

I came for the exercise, and I love that (and people who know me probably still find that astonishing).  But the heart of Rock Steady is the people.  The heart.

Dedicated to the boxers, coaches, volunteers, and caregivers at Rock Steady Boxing, at Squared Circle Studio in Deep River, CT, USA.