We’re looking forward to introducing you to Eric Patterson. Check out our conversation below.
Eric, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: When was the last time you felt true joy?
The moment i finally allowed my pride to take a backseat and forgave my mother for not being there for me and I understood that all of us have trauma and that it may affect other people in different ways such as parenting. Does that make it right? No, but forgiving is helping you have a better chance at living a happier life.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello I am a fitness trainer out of Buffalo New York. Fitness to me is more than just building muscle mass or creating muscle memory. Fitness to me is a safe place a counseling session with myself along with the weights. Fitness can help overcoming many obstacles. Some examples for me is a big one which is depression and anxiety. Depression was one of them things that came whenever it wanted and I personally had to find something to suppress that emotion and that’s where the gym came into place for me.
So for me fitness is more then just fitness, it’s health and mental awareness for black men who may not know their battling something, it’s a place of comfort and acceptance.
So when clients train with me I make sure they know that MassApeFitness is more then fitness it’s a friendship it’s a healing journey it’s something or someone that notice you when your not noticed in your life.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My daughter was the person that saw me clearly, she saw me outside of the character I portray to keep my emotional safe. She loved me through all my layers and allowed me to be vulnerable
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
When losing family that I only when knew when i was a kid. memories that i only had when i was a kid. When god called them home I felt i was cheated out of a opportunity to be there or for them or them to get to know me more personally as a adult instead of Little Eric as they knew me as
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
My religion my god. I say “my” because I’m speaking on me in particular. But god of course, people don’t give god or Jesus the credit they deserve. I try to speak to young teenagers or adults about the importance of god because at some point on judgement day will you don’t wanna be left carrying that bandage to this world. We put so much faith in “man” that we tend to forget that god put “man and woman” here to coexist together
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I had 10 years left? I would pack up whatever I could and take my girlfriend and daughter around the world. Experience memories that not only I could have but they can have forever once I’m gone.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: MassApeFitness
- Facebook: Eric Patterson
- Other: TikTok: MassApeFitness/ PT Patterson
