Kaplifestyle surpassed 1,000,000 hits last week, as well as 9 months of daily postings. This journey is one we’ve embarked on together, so I wanted to take this moment to look back on the beginnings and appreciate you sharing this road with me.

Last December, I took a snowboarding trip to Montana. Alone on a ski lift, my board dangled and my brain exploded with ideas. I felt strong, crushing my 5×5 program and squatting nearly 500 lbs. I wanted to impact others through sharing my experiences with my training program and nutrition. People are always looking to trim body fat, improve their diet and exercise and increase their overall well-being; I felt like I had something to contribute.

Truthfully, I’d been considering this for 20 years. My teammates, coaches and managers constantly asked for my reflections during my baseball career; I simply needed a platform. Writing is as inspiring for me as anything else I do, but I wanted the added benefit of creating a forum where others could muse and sharpen each other as well.

I’ve often preached taking the first step immediately and X-ing and O-ing from there, so I needed to figure out move #1. Snow covered mountain peaks with endless prairie views are the ideal place to make decisions and game plan. The idea was beginning to crystalize in my mind, but I needed to solve for two of my shortcomings, editing and handling the technical side. With neither the time nor the inclination to take them on myself, I determined finding someone who could handle those would be advantageous.

This was the moment I knew I had to make a leap. Posting a public request was taking the risk of moving the idea out of my mind and into the world. I hemmed and hawed briefly, weighed all the costs and found very little.

Warning: Unreasonably dramatic analogy coming.

This was to be my “who is with me?” moment, a la Jerry Maguire. I can sensationalize things in my dome, see (that’s the 1940’s me talking). I get passionate about an idea, and I riff. It’s not always the perfect approach, but the upside is more substantial when we act with little fear.

“Fuck it, what’s my downside? I’ll throw it out there on twitter.”

I did just that from a cabin in the woods of Whitefish.

With 2014 right around the bend, I’m starting a fitness/lifestyle blog. Anybody w editing and or website experience care to partner?

— gabe kapler (@gabekapler) December 29, 2013

I was mining blindly, and I could have turned up nothing but ordinary rocks. It happens, and it wouldn’t have derailed me. In this particular case, however, I found a diamond. Crazier yet, the gem required no polish. Finding Stephanie was simply good fortune.

Kaplifestyle’s editor and tech guru (she also just knows everything about everything) wanted to make an impact in the world, too. She required very little management and has turned out to be among my greatest teammates ever.

With Steph on board, I could simply focus on writing and sharing, and I did. In fact, I’ve written every day since then. The daily process was immediately uplifting. You must have felt my enthusiasm, because you subsequently responded with questions at times and your own riffing at others. The differing opinions have been enlightening, the conversations, powerful.

With our readers mounting in May, Steph and I desired a hand, and we repeated the process of hitting up twitter.

Summer internship for Kaplifestyle: Interested in promoting a health & earning school credit? Submit resume to [email protected]

— gabe kapler (@gabekapler) May 12, 2014

There is something about lightning never striking twice here. Peter, our summer intern, has been busting his ass to help us get the word out to the world about our group platform. He even pens an occasional guest post. It’s October. Summer has come and gone. Peter asks only to contribute. Talk about inspiring.

We have managed to build the beginning of an open-minded lifestyle family here at KL because you have stood by our side. Our platform exists sans rules. We reserve the right to change course and alter opinions as we acquire new information. In fact, we encourage it. Rigidity is denounced, flexibility celebrated ‘round here.

In the months to come, we will continue to strive to create an ecosystem flush with thought provoking discussion. I’ll write about anything and everything that touches me. Hopefully some of it will challenge or reach you on a deeper level.

In return, I ask that you challenge me back. Demand evidence from me, or at least personal experience. Engage with fellow readers. Ask for the content you’re interested in. Let’s make a collective decision to bring the good shit out of each other.

Thanks for being a part of the expedition with me thus far. Stick around; we have a lot to learn.

Kap