Last night I received the Philadelphia Magazine 2024 Health & Wellness Influencer of The Year Award.
This blog is a simple reflection for me (to process) with the hopes that it might help someone else.
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I’m being honest, I’m still in a mental fog from the stairs this past weekend and I share that because it’s going to take me a while to process what this blog is all about. I showed up to the 2024 Philadelphia Magazine Influencer Awards without expectation and surprised to be chosen as a winner. Following the shock, the first thing that I felt was a deep sense of gratitude for all of the people that have helped me get to where I am (Michaela, our families, clients, friends, etc.). The next thought that came to mind is that I’m honored to be be recognized by my peers for the hard work that I pour into the social media / health & wellness space (because it’s been a LOT of hard work).
I figured that it would be important for me to look back to the start of all this.
Here’s the short version of how we got here.
I started an Instagram page in 2015 during a season of life when confidence was near an all time low. I committed to being authentic and consistent while striving to inspire people who needed it (which in hindsight, was me). People didn’t always understand and not everyone supported what I was doing (to some degree, I was aware that people talked and laughed when I wasn’t in the room). I kept going because it felt important to me.
As time went on, I started to find people who were like me, had a desire to grow in a similar way and wanted to be part of what I was creating. I began to collect good people and bring them into the social media circle that I was curating and I’m proud to call them my tribe (most of these people also engage with Project Endure).
The lesson here is simple.
Pursue the things that you feel called to pursue even when other people don’t understand. The path that you’re on is unique to you and in time… hard work, works.
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To younger Joe and anyone else who needs it…
Get started and be willing to be misunderstood because in time, you’ll find your place and your people.
“Those who dance are considered insane by those who can’t hear the music.”
Friedrich Nietzsche
Do hard things.
Joe Rinaldi
IG: @joearinaldi
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