NO WAY TO NOT

by Amber Sheikh

This month, I’m catching up with an old friend, Shauna, and her sweet dog, Koa.

The last time we chatted, Shauna was finally settling into her apartment, only to be served with an eviction notice from her landlord. This triggered several months of uncertainty and anxiety, but with a support system, which included legal counsel (privately funded by community members), Shauna was able to stay in her apartment and fight the false claims against her.

What has happened since we last spoke?

Shauna: It’s been a rough few months. I had started the process of moving back into my car when I got the eviction notice. I rented a storage unit and began the process of moving out from the top of three flights of stairs, not knowing how my appeal would go. So, I had to pay for the storage unit and gas to go back and forth to the unit. Finally, just recently, I received the letter to dismiss the case. I’m still waiting for the final paperwork from the court, at which point I will sue the landlord. Being able to stay after this period of freaking out and my world coming apart has been the greatest feeling of my entire life.

While all this was going on, my car was having issues. It’s old, so I have to refill the water and put air in the tires every time I use it. Then, when I was visiting the encampment, it was impounded. The paperwork to get it back was a nightmare — not to mention the cost kept increasing the longer it took to get the proper paperwork and money together.

On top of that, my closest friend passed away, and I feel like some part of me is gone. I depended on her a lot, and we had so much in common. She understood me. She went through what I went through. We lived in the same encampment and worked to find housing together. She luckily ended up with a good landlord and a lovely place in Long Beach with great light where she could do her art.

Things keep happening, and I feel like I can’t keep up. Sometimes I feel like I want to dig a hole and get in it, but then what? So, I keep going.

What has been working? What has been giving you hope?

Honestly, I’ve been working hard to stay cockroach-free at my place. Look, I know so many people who have it worse. At the end of my day, I have my car, my dog, and my home. I have people who have helped me as I’ve dealt with all these crazy things over the past months. I’m surrounded by some angels. Things could be worse. Without these people, I wouldn’t have my home, my car, or my dog.

Housing is a huge hurdle but not the only one to overcome for individuals trying to rebuild and sustain their independence. Shauna’s rent is covered, but she only gets about $253 in EBT (food stamps) and $221 in general relief (cash). “I’m not eating high on the hog. I buy frozen and canned foods because they’re cheaper. No fresh fruits and vegetables, too expensive. That’s what I live off of.” If she gets a job or makes any money, that amount is reduced and the benefits get taken away.

“There’s no way to not lose. I don’t even know what I could do. I’m in pain all the time from years of just… this. My back hurts,” she says.

To add to the curveballs Shauna’s been dealing with already, the Department of Mental Health is trying to find her a new caseworker because her current therapist just went on medical leave for six months. The support just isn’t there.

Though Shauna’s situation is common, the support she receives from community advocates and friends is not. A team of advocates has been able to help her fight and navigate through some very complex systems.

Shauna has had to be resilient in the face of much adversity. And in her words, “It’s [messed] up and beautiful all at the same time.”

The balance of community support and systemic failure and frustration. I’m going to leave you with that sentiment.

What can we as individuals do to help? Simply care. spt

Amber Sheikh is a San Pedro resident, mother of two, community advocate, and owner of Sheikh/ Impact, a nonprofit consulting firm. She has nearly two decades of experience working in and with organizations solving homelessness and income inequality.

How To Make Working Out Fun

Three steps to get your body healthy and moving.

by Eddie McKenna

During the last six months, I have had the unique opportunity to witness one of my members transform into a “gym” guy.

It was funny because I got to witness the moment it happened. It was Wednesday, after a particularly grueling team workout. Everyone was beat, lying dead on the floor. He was in one of those post-workout manic states where the dopamine was hitting extra hard. He was venting and talking fast after the workout, saying, “I get it! I get it!” The coach of the session asked, “You get what?” His response was great, “I get why you love this! I feel strong. I don’t feel bad anymore. I didn’t realize I was missing out on how good I could feel. I’m no longer afraid to hurt my back by picking my daughter up!”

She laughed and responded, “The waters are warm, welcome.”

So how did he get to this point? How did he get to a place where working out became not something he dreaded but had fun doing? In my 20-plus years of training, here are three steps I’ve found to take the work out of working out.

STEP ONE: ACCEPT THE FACT THAT WORKING OUT IS NOT FUN

That’s what this man did. I will give him a name — we can call him “John.” John’s wife also works out at the gym. She joined, fell in love with the gym, and said, “I need to get my husband here.”

John and his wife are total opposites in the gym. She is a natural athlete, strong, and extremely coachable. Poor John wasn’t blessed with the “athletic” gene. What John did have going for him, and I’d argue it had the most significant impact on his success, was that he accepted that it would suck. I mean, he leaned into it big time.

Just six weeks ago, his wife came to me laughing, and I asked, “What’s so funny?” She responded, “Please don’t tell John I told you this!” She then told me how he came home after the morning workout complaining and angry that lunges were involved and he didn’t know how to do them. The next day, he came in, and I went right up to him and asked him to do a lunge for me. He failed miserably. I then proceeded for the next six minutes teaching him over and over how to lunge. Then he got it. When he was ready to leave, I made him lunge to his car to ingrain that movement into his brain.

I was proud of him that morning. I was proud of him because he didn’t give up, and as bad as the prior workout was for him, even though he failed miserably, he still showed up the next day for another workout.

STEP TWO: TREAT WORKING OUT LIKE A JOB. This was paramount for John. We have an app where people have to “clock in” for class. That was John’s punch card, and he clocked in every day at 5 a.m. and even said to me on occasion, “Reporting for duty, coach!” I laugh and tell him to drop and give me 20 every time he says that to me. John accounted for the time he’d spend in the gym and built it into his schedule. He treated it just like any other job. He didn’t always want to go in but knew he had to.

STEP THREE: WHO YOU WORK OUT WITH MATTERS. When people say working out is “fun,” they usually mean that socializing in the warm-up and grabbing coffee with their friends afterward is “fun.” We like to call that part “community,” and being part of a community with like-minded individuals who work hard and treat working out like another job creates an environment for success.

To put a little “fun” into your workout routine, you must find a community of people you can vibe with. I’m not saying it’s impossible to do it alone, but more often than not, those who can make it alone are outliers. I have always believed in safety in numbers. The pack mentality has always been a guiding principle in my life. I constantly try to surround myself with people who hold me accountable, challenge me, and ultimately make me a better person.

There you have it. Follow the above, and you’ll find yourself (mostly) smiling on the way to the gym. Let’s recap.

First, accept that it will not be fun and that you will endure the suffering to attain a sense of fulfillment from accomplishing a task, which results in a euphoric state of being. Second, make it your job; put the effort in. Third, my favorite, misery loves company; find a community to immerse yourself in. And lastly, make it easy, don’t jump into the deep end. Start on the first step, and ease your way in. spt

Eddie McKenna is co-owner of Heyday Elite Fitness. For more info, visit heydaytraining.com.