In the past week, I’ve cried happy and proud tears because of this incredible gym community multiple times. It is a great honor to be able to create the space where folks can come together for strength and community.
This past weekend was our All Out Strongfest, which brought together queer, trans, and nonbinary athletes and allies to lift and celebrate together. Our athletes crushed trap bar deadlifts, stone loading, and a harness truck pull. It was amazing to see such a display of strength! For some of our athletes, this was their first foray into strongman competition, and for others, it was simply a fun day of lifting with new friends. Together, we also raised $350 for UDTJ, a local Delco organization that provides services to LGBTQIA+ folks and organizes Delco Pride in June.
We run a lot of events, but this one is really special to me. It’s a reminder of why we do what we do. We help folks build stronger bodies, AND stronger connections. Every time I see people cheering for each other, lending a hand, or just showing up for one another, it reinforces that we’re doing something meaningful here. I love seeing how stoked people get when they tackle a hard thing they didn’t know they could do.
As a small business owner, there have been plenty of days where I’ve cried tears of frustration, too, when things felt impossibly hard, when the to-do list never ended, when I questioned if all the effort was worth it. But then I see moments like this: people celebrating together, creating friendships, supporting each other through tough times both in and out of the gym. Those are the moments that remind me it is worth it, every single bit of it.
And sometimes, the most powerful acts of community are the ones that happen quietly. Our members have been quietly helping each other out through difficult times, and I feel profoundly fortunate to be able to share in it. It’s proof that what we’re building together goes far beyond barbells and PRs.
So yeah, I’ve cried a few times this week. This week, the tears come from gratitude, pride, and awe at the people who make this place what it is. Make no mistake, I’ll cry out of frustration again, that’s owning a small business for ya. But I wanted to share a bit of my joy with all of you this week.
Power Plant is so much more than a gym. We’ve got plates and bars and benches and racks, but none of that is what makes PPG so special. It’s a community full of heart, strength, and people who show up for each other. The people really are the heart of what makes PPG such an awesome place to be.
