PYL Series: My Story
by: Joseph Dorey
Passion, discipline, positivity, work ethic. These are characteristics that drive me through life and help me to Pursue my Personal Legend every day. My life’s mission statement is to strive to be the best I can, and empower others to do the same. Motivating others to achieve their goals will ultimately help me to accomplish mine, which is influencing positive life change.
My story begins as an aspiring athlete wanting to play college baseball and basketball. I loved the feeling of working hard, competing, and leading a group of my peers. On January 18, 2011 everything changed. I tore my ACL and my dreams began to dwindle. Determined to make these dreams a reality, I worked harder than ever to rehab and become better. When tryouts rolled around later that year I was ready. I had an impeccable tryout, but disappointment struck again. I was not chosen. After that disappointment, I realized that I failed to reach my goal. But through that failure I found a new passion for hard work and improving myself. I looked back on all that I accomplished during that time and vowed that from that day forward, I would bring that passion and drive to everything I do.
Discovering training was my next love. It consumed me completely and no one could take it away. It took discipline and hard work, and it filled the competition gap that was lost after my injury. Night after night, I found myself reading CrossFit articles and watching YouTube videos of athletes with stories similar to mine. I had discovered my new passion, and ultimately what I wanted to do in life.
I loved fitness so much, that I began to train peers at a young age. Seeing the positive life change that I was making in their lives fulfilled my life. Leading, teaching, coaching, and motivating were things I loved when I played sports. Training people gave me the opportunity to do just that.
I never realized the impact I was making until I received a letter from a friend of mine. It said, “Joey, thank you for taking interest in me and motivating me to not only improve my health, but my life. I was done with life before you came into it and was often ready to give up. I was in a dark place, and I can honestly say you saved my life. I have lost 40lbs and have a new passion for life. Looking back, I cannot believe that I wanted it to end. All I can say is thank you.”
This revealed the power that fitness has and how incredible it was to be a part of it. I will never forget that moment because those are the stories that I live for.
Here at Alchemy, I am home. Whenever I walk into the studio I feel more alive and free than ever. I feel like any negativity that the outside world has cannot touch me. I often find myself sitting in the studio during off hours because I crave the serene free feeling. When I walk out of the studio, I know that I am a better man than when I walked in. Being a part of the positive life change that takes place at Alchemy is the biggest blessing in my life. If you notice that I cannot stop smiling when you see me at Notheast, it’s because in my mind, there is no better place to be. I am living out my dream whenever I am there.
Taking Alchemy with me in every situation has completely changed my life. I am currently Pursuing My Legend with my sister and helping her adapt healthy lifestyle changes. Seeing her growth continues to motivate me in my own fitness walk and fosters the growth of the passion I want to bring to coaching every week.
Alchemy is a special place, a special community, and an unbelievable life experience. Although I didn’t become a professional baseball player like I wanted to when I was young, I get to do something even better. I get to be a part of life change and help make our community feel more alive through passion and positivity. My love is deep for our mission and my passions are vast for you. Seeing your legends pursued and goals accomplished fuels my passion and joy in life.
Joey is a Coach at Alchemy Northeast. He loves jamming to country music and in the summertime, you can find him on a boat (#MNLakeLife). He loves to travel and has never seen a Corgi that he didn’t like.
[The PYL Series highlights individuals that don’t just tolerate discomfort to purse their legend, they anticipate and embrace it. Knowing what you want, and knowing that you’ll do anything and overcome all obstacles to achieve it is not easy, but it is the only way to reach your own legend. Pursue it vigorously, and the universe will conspire to help you achieve yours too.]
