Summertime is finally here! School’s out, vacation countdowns are on, and life feels a little slower and more relaxed this time of year. June also means Father’s Day, which feels like the perfect opportunity to celebrate my dad, Teej.

I’ve got his blue eyes and long legs, and I definitely inherited some of his quieter, more introverted personality traits. But beyond the obvious similarities, there are so many deeper things I’ve learned simply from watching him throughout my life. The biggest lesson? The value of hard work.

My dad owned a body shop for my entire childhood, and long days, weekends, and even holidays spent working were just part of our normal. Looking back now, I realize how much sacrifice came with being a business owner, but as a kid, I simply saw a man who showed up every single day and did what needed to be done for his family.

The one exception every year was our Fourth of July trip to Lake Norman. He would close the shop for the week, and we’d pack up and head to the lake… still some of my favorite childhood memories. I remember long days on the pontoon boat, being out on the water, and seeing my dad completely relaxed and happy. That man LOVES the lake. It makes me so happy that the place he looked forward to escaping to every summer eventually became the place he and my mom now call home full-time. They’ve lived there for almost 10 years now, and it’s hard to get him to leave. As a fellow homebody, I completely understand.

Another thing my dad taught me was the importance of taking care of yourself. For as long as I can remember, he rode his bike around Clemmons every single day at lunchtime. It wasn’t optional or something he only did when he “felt motivated,” it was simply part of his routine. Looking back, I’m sure it gave him a mental reset during busy workdays, but it also showed me what consistency really looks like. Especially during a time when wellness and exercise weren’t talked about the way they are now; I think that commitment to his health was incredibly admirable.

I’m so grateful for the unique childhood I had growing up with two entrepreneur parents and a dad who was far from the stereotypical office-job, golf-on-the-weekends kind of dad. Instead of taking me to soccer games, he took me riding dirt bikes. Instead of teaching through long lectures, he taught through his actions. He’s truly the best there is, and I’m so grateful he’s my dad.

Looking ahead, next month we kick off another session of “Hot Girl Hour” at Washington Park CrossFit, and I truly couldn’t be more excited. This will be our seventh six-week session of the program, which has become such a passion project for me over the past year.

For anyone unfamiliar, Hot Girl Hour is a women’s-only beginner fitness program led entirely by female coaches. Over the course of six weeks, we teach the foundations of strength training, weightlifting, and gymnastics movements in a supportive, encouraging environment designed specifically for women who may feel intimidated stepping into a gym for the first time.

One of my favorite parts of the program is watching women realize they are capable of so much more than they thought. For many participants, it’s their very first time touching a barbell or learning how to lift weights, and by the end of the six weeks, they’re walking into the gym with confidence and strength they didn’t know they had. Seeing the transformation of women take up space, become more comfortable in their bodies, and build confidence will never get old.

Fitness has given me so much confidence personally and getting to share that feeling with other women means the world to me. The next session begins Tuesday, July 7th, and these groups always sell out quickly. If you’d like more information or want to reserve your spot, email [email protected]. And be sure to read about Amy’s experience with Hot Girl Hour!

Also, don’t miss “The Podcast Everyone in Winston-Salem Should Be Listening To!”

Wishing you a June full of sunshine, rest, and plenty of time spent with loved ones.

All my best,
Brooke