Define Yourself

I have mentioned before that I routinely work out at the gym here on campus at the University of Texas. This year, the marketing department at the gym has chosen the theme "Define Yourself" for their posters, fliers, and other materials. I have found their material extremely effective and well-designed. A friend of mine works at the gym (she actually holds an important full time position, not just the person that swipes your card or changes the towels on the ellipticals -- not that those jobs aren't important, but you know), and I saw her at a party a few weeks ago. I told her how much I liked the campaign, and she encouraged me to write an email up so she could pass it along to the appropriate people, so they'd know their work was appreciated. I did so. Here is the email I wrote (and I meant every word of it). (Below that is the part of the brochure with the swimmer that I refer to in the email.)

"To Whom it May Concern:

I'm currently a graduate (PhD) student in astronomy at
UT.  For approximately the last 4 years (having never
really been active before that), I have been a
regular user of the on-campus facilities, especially
Gregory Gym, participating in both informal rec and
TeXercise (and cycling) classes.  I am writing
regarding the promotional campaign currently in place
at UT RecSports, "Define Yourself."

I first remember seeing the "Define Yourself" material
in the flier rack at Gregrory Gym, as the 2007-2008
Program Guide.  One in particular caught my eye: there
is a picture of a swimmer, with the words "Define
Yourself" in big print above him, then various
positive words in smaller print above that.

I find the design and message of this campaign
extremely effective.  I love the message it conveys,
that we are individually enabled to really define who
we are, and do not have to remained confined to labels
others may have previously created for us (or that we
may have created for ourselves).  Just because we are
not someone who would be described as "active" or
"involved" or "adventurous" doesn't mean that we can
never be those things.  We become those things by
doing them - and we can start doing and becoming them
whenever we want, whenever we set our mind to achieve
it.

I have a long list of negative words that can be used
to describe me, as we all do (found in our
weaknesses).  But I have found a lot of motivation and
strength in the idea of keeping close that list of
positive words that I'm trying to strive towards.  I
actually took a few copies of that brochure with the
swimmer on it to be a constant reminder: I hung one in
my office at school, one in my locker at the gym, and
one in my room at home, to remind myself that I want
to - and more importantly CAN - become these things.

At the beginning of the semester the UT RecSports
booth was set up with fliers of information, and were
giving out buttons from the "Define Yourself"
campaign.  Each button had a single positive word
written on it.  There weren't many there, but I did
take one that said "Strong."  I pinned the button on
my hoodie (that I wear nearly everyday), and it is a
constant reminder that I am (and want to be) strong --
not just physically, but emotionally, mentally,
intellectually, and spiritually.  And there are times
that I need that reminder and have been so glad to
have it!

Kudos for coming up with such an effective and
amazingly designed campaign!  Because of the programs
and facilities offered at RecSports, I'm able to
continually challenge myself, setting and reaching
goals that I never thought possible, becoming closer
to the person I want to become.

Thanks!!"