09/07/2025, Written by Mikayla Bloom
Welcome to the World!
My First Event
Have you ever wondered what happens when you let a very socially awkward and introverted individual organize and host social events? Well, that was me September of last year when I decided to host my first Let Your Feet Do the Talking social in Howland, OH. What’s funny is I can’t remember almost anything from that day. It’s like when you go on autopilot while driving, you blink and all of a sudden you’re at your destination. I couldn’t tell you what day or time the event took place, but what I do know is that it definitely happened and clearly something clicked since Reconnection Fitness is still hosting events a year later.
Childhood, Confidence, and Sports
Growing up, I didn’t realize how much anxiety could shape the choices I made. I always thought it was just a “me” problem for being quiet, feeling awkward, overthinking everything. But looking back, it wasn’t just shyness. It was fear. Fear of judgment, fear of standing out, fear of not being good enough. And that fear stuck around longer than I ever expected.
Like a lot of people, I spent years trying to blend in, constantly adjusting who I was depending on the group I was around. Over time, I had so many different “versions” of myself on standby that I didn’t really know who I was anymore. I felt fake… Not in a dishonest way, but like I was never showing up fully as me. That habit slowly chipped away at my confidence without me even realizing it.
Still, despite all of that, I did try track and soccer in middle school and I actually really enjoyed them. Now don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t exactly a star athlete, but I loved being outside and moving my body. I especially loved running the 400 and 800 meter events in track.
But the older I got, the harder it became to keep doing things just for fun. Anxiety started to win more often and that’s where things really began to shift.
When Reality Feels Like a Question
By the time I got to high school, things changed. Sports weren’t just about having fun anymore. Up until that point, I had done them purely because I liked them. But suddenly, all I could see ahead of me was a field full of new teammates who might judge every move I make. I imagined losing every meet, sitting on the sidelines, and just feeling like I didn’t belong.
So I quit. Just gave it all up. Because clearly, I’d never be “good enough,” right?
The Mental Battles of Anxiety
The Brain is Stupid Sometimes…
Now, you might be thinking: You can’t just assume those things would happen, you have to at least try first! And honestly, you’re right. Logically, that’s what a reasonable person would do. But anxiety isn’t logical. It’s that annoying little voice in your head that constantly imagines the worst-case scenario under the guise of trying to “protect” you. Even when those fears are ridiculous, they feel real.
And because of that, I missed out on a lot in high school. Not because I didn’t want to participate, but because I was so afraid of what people would think.
Thanks for the Nicknames, I Guess
Once I graduated I noticed my best friend had been going to the gym and was getting super strong! I on the other hand was the equivalent of a string bean. My whole life I have been called things like skinny minny, anorexic (I wasn’t), and of course string bean, and there was a period in time I was also called Randall from Monster’s Inc… I still don’t know where that came from, but hey, if you see the resemblance, feel free to let me know.
Those comments didn’t feel great at the time, but I can laugh about them now. Honestly, looking back, they probably played a part in why I decided to start getting stronger in the first place.
Getting Strong and Saying Goodbye to String Bean Me
So after some thinking I thought building my strength could be good for me so I started going to the gym. I set zero standards or expectations for myself, I just went. It took a couple months of being consistent and it was seriously hard to get to that point. My anxiety would win sometimes because if I saw someone I knew from high school at the gym I would drop everything and leave. If I felt like someone was judging me, I would leave. If I thought my outfit looked stupid, I would leave. It was a constant mental battle that I felt like I would never win.
A Fresh Start in Pennsylvania
Where No One Knew My Name (and That Was Perfect)
But when I moved all the way to Oakdale, PA for college I honestly felt a lot of that anxiety disappear? It was quite freeing actually! I think it’s because I realized I wasn’t going to see anyone I knew from high school, I also knew I probably wasn’t going to stay in PA forever. So in reality I would never see the gym-goers of the Planet Fitness in Moon, PA ever again. So it really allowed me to build confidence in the gym without worrying about people’s opinions so much.
A Fresh Start Short-Lived
It’s safe to say that I soon fell in love with weightlifting and it became my main hobby throughout college. Flash forward to 2024 when I had been back in Ohio for a while and was working an office job in my field for about three years. With the gym no longer being a hobby for me but now a lifestyle I started becoming bored and quite frankly I was just completely miserable. The gym wasn’t giving me the same dopamine boost that it used to even though I still enjoyed going. So I started to think: There has got to be more to life than this!
My “AHA!” Moment
The Softball Game That Changed Everything
One day while visiting a friend we were walking around a park and saw a softball game going on. So we decided to sit and watch for a little while. It was a local adult league, and they were all wearing matching tye-dye shirts with their team logo on it. I actually believe they were called the “Trash Pandas” if I remember correctly which made us both laugh. It looked like they were having a lot of fun.
My friend: “I seriously wish I could play softball again…”
Me: “Well why don’t you? I’m sure there’s a league around here right?”
My friend: “Believe me I’ve looked, but there are no co-ed teams in my area and finding just the male teams was super hard.”
Wait… Am I Really Doing This?
That is when I had my big “AHA!” moment. Surely she’s not the only one struggling to find a team to play on. There’s got to be other people out there looking for sports to take part in! So I started my research. I have always been known for my lack of social skills and especially my disinterest toward sports. But here I was going door to door in my neighborhood trying to find out people’s interest towards recreational sports, which I still can’t believe I convinced myself to do.
A Problem Worth Solving
For the first time, something in me shifted. I wasn’t just watching a game anymore. I was starting to see a gap in the world that I might actually be able to fill. I don’t know what it was about that moment, but something really clicked. Watching that softball game made me realize this wasn’t just a “her” problem. It was probably a lot of people’s problem. People who, like me, felt too nervous to join something new, didn’t feel “good enough,” or just couldn’t find a way in. And for once, I felt like maybe I could actually do something about it.
Operation Reconnection Fitness: Initiated
What I Found Out: Why It’s So Hard to Get Active
I had created a survey to gather people’s input and opinions around recreational sports. I was asking literally everyone to fill it out, posting in Facebook groups, hanging up flyers in coffee shops, you name it! Not only did I learn a lot from just everyday people but I also learned a lot from people who were already in different sports leagues. So this is what I found out:
- Not all sports leagues, but a lot of them are not meant for beginners or aren’t really based around just having fun. Which obviously if you’re super good at a sport and were looking for something more competitive then this isn’t an issue for you. However, if you’re just someone who wants to get out of the house, have some fun or even try the sport for the first time there’s a high chance you wouldn’t be able to participate.
- Most leagues are pretty close knit/hard to get into. Whether that means people are on teams through work, or all the teams in a public league are already filled by a close friend group. It’s hard to get into one. It’s especially hard to start one when a lot of your friends don’t share the same interests as you.
- Even if you could get into one, something a lot of people struggled with was finding the time and money. Life is already busy as it is, most people would love to play but the once a week commitment can be really tough. Plus a lot of sports require equipment as well. Let’s be honest, it’s certainly not cheap!
The Reason Why I Had to Start Reconnection Fitness
The first reason really stuck with me because it’s the whole reason that held me back in high school. I thought I wasn’t going to be good enough. And you know what? I think everyone should be able to take part in sports or any type of hobby regardless of if they’re “good” or “bad”. I understand that it’s okay to have higher level leagues available, but I just don’t want people to feel how I did. At that moment I realized SOMEONE had to make this a possibility for the community. If nobody else was going to create a league, a group, a team, SOMETHING for all skill levels then I guess it was gonna have to be me.
What Reconnection Fitness Looks Like Today
So… What Is Reconnection Fitness?
If this blog post is your first time hearing of me then let me break down what I do for you! Reconnection Fitness hosts at least one social fitness event a month that are completely donation-based. It’s always something different every month. Hosting a wide variety of activities allows event attendees to explore their interests without the feeling of having to commit to a specific sport or activity. This also makes sure they don’t spend a fortune on an expensive membership or expensive equipment that they may not end up wanting or using in the long run.
Everyone Starts Somewhere (Including Me)
All of my events are for any skill level, we have had plenty of events filled with beginners and that obviously includes me! I’m always a beginner at my events and it’s usually my event attendees giving me advice and tips to help me get better in the future. Everyone is always super supportive and we all just come ready to have fun with no pressure of being “good” at all! Plus if a certain event requires equipment no biggie, most if not all attendees are almost always willing to share their equipment if you don’t have any.
No One Saw This Coming (Not Even Me)
When I started telling people I was going to start hosting fitness social events most people were supportive but I always found it humorous that absolutely nobody saw it coming. Because why would they? I never took part in any sports or physical activities during highschool, in fact I often showed my obvious disinterest toward fitness. But I don’t think a lot of people really knew that I still quite enjoyed being active. I guess I didn’t really know how much I enjoyed it either, my anxiety truly did get the best of me. Who knows, if I would have stuck it out in sports I probably would have gone to college for something completely different. But at the end of the day all the experiences I’ve had have led me here, to Reconnection Fitness and I don’t regret a thing.
Why I Do This (And Why You Should Come Too!)
I don’t regret bringing a little more movement and joy into people’s lives every month, meeting so many people who are passionate about their sport, encouraging a more positive outlook on fitness, and I certainly don’t regret giving everyone an opportunity to try or continue a passion even if they’re not “good” at it. I think everyone deserves an easily accessible way to get active without the hefty price tag, strict commitment, and most importantly without the feeling of being judged and outcast.
If you want to experience a low-pressure way of getting active with an awesome group, make sure to come see us at Reconnection Fitness’ 1st Birthday on September 20th! It will be a fun-filled day with MULTIPLE activities throughout the event, and the best part is you only have to take part in the sports you’re interested in 🙂 So make sure to find out the details and RSVP by clicking below, thanks for being here and I hope to be seeing you soon.