Shane Pitts named September Fittest Employee

Although I appreciate the NTCC Wellness Committee?s selection, one might more easily argue that I?m not all that healthy and should do more for myself and my wellness. †I don?t have an exercise routine and I don?t really watch what I eat.

Several years ago we lived in an apartment community where there were lots of kids and lots of opportunities to engage in outdoor activities. Whether it was playing football, basketball, kick ball, riding/racing bikes around the circled parking lots or having a water gun/balloon fight there were plenty of opportunities and reasons to get off the couch, out of the a/c and do something interactive. After a few years of living there I found an opportunity to purchase a home at a very reasonable price. The home is at the end of a street that many in town don?t even know exist. Honestly it?s great, but there are very few kids on our street. The doorbell isn?t ringing daily with kids asking to play. Without that we became less active. Day to day pretty much became going to work/school and home. As my son is getting older and I start to realize that we don?t really have that many years living in the same home so I began looking for something that we could do with minimal planning and expense. We had gone kayaking years ago in Brokenbow, Ok with family and enjoyed it, and I thought maybe kayaking would be a good family activity. †There are lots of lakes in the area and Lower Mountain Fork River (Class I & II white water) in Brokenbow, Oklahoma is really just up the road at a little over an hour?s drive. †I searched craigslist, facebook, ebay, etc? for used kayaks. I started reading and watching videos on technique, gear and safety. After purchasing some kayaks we made a few trips to area lakes. It was fun, but it didn?t really get the attention of the whole family that I hoped it would. Finally I managed to get myself and my fiancÈ up to Mountain Fork. After that trip she was hooked with the moving water and obstacles provided by the river. A few weeks later my son reluctantly went and by the end of the trip told me that I was right and that he had a great time. The three of us finally got to take our first trip together to the river this past Labor Day weekend. †We had a great time.

Kayaking even though not daily source of exercise is a great core work out. You definitely get the heart pounding at times. †It?s just a great way to escape and get away if only for a little while. We?ve been able to reconnect with nature and see things that we don?t normally see, and we?ve been able spend time together that we might otherwise have lost.

Again, I don?t know about being fittest employee of the month, but my family?s activities has definitely given us times to look forward to and memories we?ll have for years.