Love and Fire
This Is Not a Drill
Dear Reader,
I hope you had a great weekend, and—even if you didn’t—thanks for being here. To support this newsletter and future topic development, please consider subscribing if you haven’t already.
Introduction
Today’s newsletter is a departure from the regular format. I’ve lived in Los Angeles for 27 years—my entire adulthood—and the wildfire devastation that has befallen our city over the past week is vast and deep. It’s almost too much to comprehend.
I’m sure I could come up with some silly fitness metaphor related to the fires in the realm of “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”… but let’s not go there tonight.
Instead, let’s talk about love.
When disaster strikes, it has a way of stripping everything down to what truly matters. It’s easy to get caught up in the noise of daily life—our routines, our goals, our to-do lists. But when our world shifts and the things we take for granted are suddenly gone, there’s really only one thing that holds us together… and that’s love.
Love is:
Neighbors helping neighbors spray down roofs and get to safety
Strangers offering shelter and solace
Veterinarians housing lost, hurt, and displaced animals
Volunteers delivering mountains of supplies
Firefighters working tirelessly in life-threatening conditions
People selflessly donating whatever they can to help, including their time and energy
Countless phone calls and texts from friends and relatives
In moments like these, love becomes the only currency that matters.
Love is also something we must give to ourselves. Taking care of yourself is not selfish; it’s necessary. This newsletter is built on the foundation of love in the form of fitness and self-care, and I firmly believe that when we move our bodies… when we fuel ourselves with good food… when we rest… we’re building the strength to show up for the people we care about and for the people who care about us.
So, for this week and every week thereafter, I encourage you to honor love. It’s what keeps us moving forward, even when the road is uncertain. It’s what helps us rebuild after everything falls apart. It’s the reason.
It’s the why.
For this week: Give love
Here are three small acts of love you can give to yourself and to others:
Move with intention. Take a walk, stretch, or do a workout—not for the sake of hitting a goal, but to feel grounded and present in your body.
Reach out. Call, text, or check in with someone you care about. Let them know you’re thinking of them.
Contribute. If you’re able, find a way to support those affected by the wildfires. Whether it’s donating, volunteering, or simply sharing resources, every little bit helps. Here are some ways you can contribute:
Folks, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for the outpouring of love and support. I appreciate you.
Be safe, take care, and keep going.
With love,
Marek