Looking Back on 2020

You know how your friendly Fearless coaches are always reminding you to enter your workouts into SugarWOD (ahem)? It’s not just for the fistbumps, banter, or GIFs—it’s so you can measure your progress. How can you tell if what you’re doing is working if you have no idea where you started? To get where you are going, you have to look back at where you’ve been. That doesn’t mean dwelling on the past, it just means using it as a reference or starting point upon which you can build. So before diving headfirst into 2021, ready and raring to go with a brand new set of goals, don’t kick 2020 to the curb just yet. Bust out that journal, carve out some quiet time, and make peace with the lessons 2020 provided by reflecting on the following questions:

1. What mattered most to me?
2. How did I spend my time?
3. What went well?
4. What am I most proud of?
5. What challenges did I overcome?
6. What could have gone better?
7. Did I prioritize the thing(s) that mattered most?
8. What did I learn?
9. What could I have done differently?
10. What was in my control?
11. What was not in my control?
12. Am I pleased with my effort?
13. What matters most to me going forward?
14. What am I most looking forward to in 2021?

This is by no means a definitive or exhaustive list, and there are no right or wrong answers. Your answers may be bullet points, sentences, essays, or tomes that rival Beowulf. Once you spend some time reflecting on the past year (and what a wild ride it was), by all means: please commence with planning the most epic [responsible, socially distanced] New Years’ Eve, and at the stroke of midnight, let’s all scream a collective “JUMANJI” and put 2020 to bed once and for all!

Fearless Eating

Last week was all about holiday traditions, so along those lines, here’s one of my favorite New Year’s Day traditions. While I am a firm believer in making your own luck, this year I am not taking any chances. This traditional southern dinner menu is one I grew up enjoying every year (and still do!) on New Year’s Day. There is meaning behind every dish, all designed to bring you good luck and prosperity in the new year.

Pork is considered a sign of prosperity in some cultures, where greens (collard greens, cabbage, sauerkraut, etc.) symbolize money and ensure good fortune for the coming year. I love this crockpot recipe for Pork Roast and Sauerkraut. This year I’m subbing coconut sugar for the brown sugar, and if you’re a meal prepper, you’re going to have some leftovers for the rest of the week. Protein plus greens, what’s not to love?

A classic southern table also has black-eyed peas which symbolize coins or wealth. I like to have mine in a dish called Hoppin’ John. It also doesn’t hurt that black-eyed peas are nutrient dense! Not only do they have protein and carbohydrates, they are rich in micronutrients like iron, magnesium (hello, better sleep!), and folate.

And last but not least, round out your meal with this great recipe for paleo cornbread. Like greens and black-eyed peas or beans, cornbread also symbolizes prosperity.

What are your New Year’s staples? Any superstitions or traditions you rely on for good luck in the new year? We’d love to know—post a picture and tag us on Instagram (@fearlessphl).

Fearless Movement

We started out this blog post looking back, so for your New Year’s workout, let’s only look forward with this bodyweight chipper. Perfect for a no-equipment, at-home workout.

For time:

Cash in: 150 double unders (sub 300 single unders)

100 air squats

80 burpees

60 jumping lunges

40 hand-release push ups

20 V-ups

*Optional cash out: 150 double unders

Wishing you all another year of health, wellness, and community. See you back at the box in 2021, and don’t forget to bring your goals—we have work to do!

“Start as you mean to go on,” which is with strength and confidence into the new year!

Written by Coach Natalie Lewis