You may have noticed that we bust out the term Philanthletics a whole lot around here. It’s the driving force of Positive Tracks. What’s it mean? Let’s break it down and take sweat first:
Here’s what I love about sweat: It’s tangible. You feel it, taste it, see it. It makes you hungry – makes you strong, healthy, confident. It makes your brain work better. Makes you brave. And it’s yours. You make it yourself using your arms, feet, guts. It’s the by-product of getting yourself to a starting line. It’s proof of ownership, of having skin in the game, of setting a goal.
SWEAT’S A DARN GOOD TOOL FOR LEARNING WHO YOU ARE.
In my book, there are two kinds of sweat. Some sweat you make for YOU. To stay healthy. Do your job. Win the game. But there’s another kind. I call it Sweat 2.0. Sweat 2.0 is the uber sweat you get when you merge regular sweat with a new beast – one that produces similar human reaction, thumping heart, face lit from the inside: LOVE.
Let’s talk about love. Makes you feel alive! Part of a team. Connected to someone. Connected to the earth. When you merge sweat and love, all their close cousins suddenly come flying out. Courage! Collaboration! Community! Commitment! Compassion! They’re all there. BAM.
At Positive Tracks, we call this magic alchemy Philanthletics. Philanthropy (love) + Athletics (sweat) = Philanthletics. It’s a perfect storm – a genius marriage of good motives and good motivation. Its by-product, Sweat 2.0, is changing the world – it’s eradicating HIV, rethinking disabilities, protecting our oceans, and fighting cancer. And much, much more.
Philanthletics is a look: Check out the mirror after any philanthletic pheat, and you’ll see a human express train of do-gooderness fueled by sweat, creativity, passion and fun! You look darned good, right? You betcha!
Philanthletics is a state of being: It’s that happy, healthy, slightly stinky, totally exhausted, I-can’t-wait-to-do-it-again feeling you get when perspiration and inspiration meet.
Philanthletics is a source of power: It flips that human compassion switch, powers up a force-field of positive energy, and lights you up from inside making you a healthy, human fire-fly, or love-bug, at least.
Philanthletics is for everyone: If you’ve ever used your own muscle, heart or sweat to raise awareness, funds or emotional support for a cause, person, or place, you are philanthletic!
Philanthletics is that something extra: I like to say that philanthletics is where “giving back meets going the extra mile,” because philanthletics attaches athletic efforts directly to positive change. It’s purpose with a passion. Get active. Give back. Each boosts power and meaning in the other.
Philanthletics is contagious: When you do what you love, and love what you do, it’s impossible to contain the enthusiasm. And you wouldn’t want to keep it all to yourself because…
Philanthletics is good for you: Self-esteem, compassion, physical strength, empathy, inner beauty, outer radiance, perseverance – they all come hand in hand with philanthletics.
Philanthletics gets you out: Out of the building, out of yourself, out of your comfort zone. It’s the way go-getters get good stuff done.
Philanthletics is generous: Share what you’ve been given, share what you’ve earned, share what you love the most. Go ahead and give it. You won’t be sorry.
Philanthletics is grateful: For people, for experience, for beauty around you. You are lucky to live on this earth. You are lucky to have shoes on your feet. You are lucky to love. Remember the big picture.
Philanthletics is daring to begin: You can’t cross the ocean by staring at the sea. Dive in! Go phorth! Get phit! Have phun!
Nini Meyer, Founder & President
Me In 140 Characters Or Less: Philanthletics Passionista; Pugs Not Drugs; Nothing Rivals The Power Of Family, Fun, Gratitude, and HOT DAMN.