New Seasons, New Sinks, New Shoes

Transitions are all around us at the Y right now.

Some are easy to notice. As the weather warms, our rhythms shift. Summer in Maine pulls many of us outdoors, and like many of you, the WCY feels that change. Some familiar faces step away for the season, while others return from their winter routines. Soon, our building will be filled in a different way—more than 100 children bringing energy, laughter, and movement to every corner during summer camp.

Some transitions are more personal.

And then there are the transitions that are both exciting and, at times, a little uncomfortable.

For the first time since COVID, the WCY is nearly full again. Not long ago, the parking lot was quiet, the pool always had an open lane, and we wondered what the future might hold. I remember spending my days brainstorming new programs and partnerships.  Today, classes are full, the weight room is busy, conversations over coffee are back, and we are sharing space in ways we haven’t had to in years. I think a lot about how we can grow!  It’s a good problem—but it does require patience, flexibility, and a little extra awareness of one another.

Change is hard… (So original! But also true.) 

Whether it’s making space for someone in a class, adjusting to new schedules, or welcoming new faces, it can be uncomfortable, like wearing in a new pair of shoes.  Over time, those shoes that pinched and squeezed feel like a second skin. 

And then they wear out and we have to start the process over!  Arghhh!  And Hallelujah! 

I hope you feel the excitement of “new shoes”  in the areas you can see (updating bathrooms, repainting and reflooring, and fixing the outdoor basketball hoop) as well as the parts you don’t see (the pool mechanical room, the plumbing, and the ventilation system).

The foundation of the WCY remains: It is still a place where you (and everyone!) can come as you are, be supported by others, and grow stronger—in spirit, mind, and body. It’s the encouragement from a classmate, the conversation in the hallway, the familiar faces that help you show up on the days it’s hardest.

Thank you for being part of this community—and for helping make this a space where everyone is welcome no matter what changes are happening.