Curves – A Beacon of Light in our Communities
light·house
/ˈlītˌhous/
noun – a tower or other structure containing a beacon light to warn or guide ships at sea.
I Love Lighthouses
Over 20 years ago, as a Curves Mentor, I assisted two clubs in Michigan opening their doors. Michigan is home to more lighthouses than any other U.S. state. I had Friday to Sunday off between the openings, so this was a great time to check them out. I left Traverse City and drove down along Lake Michigan and hit every lighthouse! That’s when I began seeking out lighthouses wherever I go.
As I’ve stood looking at each one, I have often been overcome with the thought of how many lives may have been saved by that small, simple light, and what an awesome responsibility the light keeper has to keep that beacon burning bright through the night. Each lighthouse also has a unique design that not only guides the ships in the dark but in the light of day as well. We don’t have to be in darkness to need guidance. The lighthouses’ unique design allows the ship to know where they, serving as a marker along the coast.
I’ve spent a lot of time photographing lighthouses, too. Some of my most recent and favorite images I’m sharing with you here. I’ve always been drawn to the solitary beauty of these structures, dramatically rising at the point where ocean meets shore, shining a beacon of light to help guide boats safely home. Strong and steady, lighthouses are designed to weather storms, rising above waves, with their light cutting through the darkness to relay hope to ships caught in rough seas or simply needing a landmark. As someone who loves spending time on the water, there is also a sense of comfort when coming into view of a harbor and seeing a lighthouse welcoming me like an old friend who has been waiting for me to safely return.
We Don’t Have To Be In Darkness To Need Guidance
Over the past couple of weeks, circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 crisis have given me cause to stop and consider how each of our Curves clubs and their owners are like a lighthouse – a beacon of light and hope – in their own communities. I have seen small business owners across four countries stand strong through the waves of a global pandemic. They have worked tirelessly to ensure their members’ safety, to guide them toward alternative ways to workout at home, and found creative ways to encourage them to stay active and healthy during forced closures. Curves owners and their teams of coaches have continued to provide member support through the internet, email, phone calls, and text messages – an unprecedented level of service in our industry. In this way, they have been able to provide their members hope, comfort, and even a sense of normalcy in an otherwise chaotic world. I’m reminded of how each lighthouse I have visited is so strong and important, just like small business owners in all our local communities. To their members and to their local communities, our owners have been a critical guiding light.
I am incredibly proud of the work that our local small business owners are doing to keep our Curves members healthy, strong, and connected in this tumultuous time. When this storm passes – and it will – our owners will welcome their members back to the club and our 30-minute circuit workout. I believe firmly that our Curves club locations will be a model to follow, seen as the light keepers that guided and strengthened their members through the most difficult time anyone has ever experienced.
~Krishea
