Difference Maker!

Difference Maker!

I know runners can be annoying constantly talking about running. We will tell you when we ran, how long we ran, things that happened on the run, give unsolicited advice to novice runners on what they should and should not do, and tell people all the time that they should run too. I get it, it’s a lot, especially to those who don’t run.
 
So please bear with me for this week’s difference maker because it is all about running.
 
I used to always envy runners, especially living in Washington D.C. On my commute to work, I would see people running the city, all times of the day. I always wondered if they had a job. They seemed so carefree.
 
Assimilation took effect after about five years of living in D.C., I put on my first pair of running shoes. I think I made it half a block before I started walking. But I kept going. I was bound and determined to run my first 5k when I turned 35. I did it! Even better, I did it on my birthday and actually got second place in my age group.
 
The love-hate relationship of running was a seed planted in me, and I just couldn’t stop pushing myself to reach higher goals. Then one day after running my umpteenth half marathon, listening to the other runners talk about the euphoric feeling they get running a full marathon, I signed up for the D.C. Rock and Roll.
 
Running a marathon was not physically easy in the least bit. I am not a natural runner. But the feeling of accomplishment was invigorating. However, I never reached that feeling that runners often spoke about. Twenty-six miles wasn’t enough.
 
I am a firm believer that the spectators, or cheerleaders, are just as significant as the runners. We feed off each other. And I also like to be able to give back what was given to me. Therefore, I signed up to volunteer for the Northface Endurance Challenge in Virginia. This event consisted of a half marathon, full marathon, 50K, and 50-miler throughout the scenic park of Great Falls. Thousands of people showed to run, work, and show support.
 
The aid station I worked at was the turning point for the marathon runners, the passing point for the 50K runners, and the three loop around for the 50-mile runners. They would stop to change socks, shoes, drink soup, eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, hug their loved ones, and start off on their journey again. The weather was horrible! In an eight-hour time span, we managed to experience the bad parts of all four seasons. There was even hail!  
 
Amongst the climate misery of that day, the seed was planted for me to run a 50K. Believe it or not, the runners with their tired faces, some in pain, gave me inspiration. To see people, fight through their own internal struggles, knowing they could fail, but continue to go it, was AMAZING!
 
I went home that night and signed up for the Northface 50K. Training was tough, especially after moving back to Ohio. Winter training in Northeast Ohio is not easy. I think about that every time now when signing up for a distance race. And my body was breaking down while I was training. Instead of giving up, I moved my race up, which led me to the Williamsburg Single Track 50K.
 
I have never in my life ever did anything to push myself beyond what I knew I could be successful at. I never feared failure, until this race. After running 20 miles, my body was breaking down. I remember going to the aid stations and asking the volunteers to push as hard as they could on my knee and IT band because I felt like my knee was going to snap. I remember at mile 26, people at the aid station telling me it’s okay to stop. 26 miles is still quite an accomplishment. But I just couldn’t stop.
 
Between mile 26 and 32, the range of emotions were intense. My mind was in a battle with itself… whether to lay down, never to move again, or keep pushing forward. I cried a lot. But I just wouldn’t stop.
 
I was physically and mentally breaking. Yet, I didn’t stop.
 
When I got out of the woods to flat ground, I was so happy, only one mile left. I crossed that line listening to Hallelujah by the Pentatonix. I finally had that euphoric feeling.
 
What that race gave me was the greatest gift I could have ever given myself. I learned to go for something with the possibility of failing. I learned to give myself all I have. I learned nothing handed to you will be better than something earned. Most importantly, I learned I am unstoppable.
 
Our minds are stronger that what we think, and we are all so capable. So go for it!

Evergreen and Everlasting!

Evergreen and Everlasting!

You must put yourself out there. Have you ever had that vision of you stepping on to a stage, spotlight shining on you, while you look at a pitch-black audience, your palms are sweaty, and you don’t know what to say?

No? Well maybe that’s just me. But the point can resonate with all of us – you must step outside of your comfort zone and put yourself out there to succeed. Even when success seems so far away.
 
This is obviously much easier said than done. I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before, but for me speaking in public is one of my biggest fears (hence the example to start this week’s Everlasting Evergreen section). Every time I have an upcoming talk in front of a group of people, I dread it. The reaction when I tell my friends that I hate public speaking is disbelief. They always counter with “but you are so great up there.” What they don’t see is the stress leading up to that moment. The rehearsing, the pacing, the thinking that I’m in over my head. But at the end of the day what gets me through it, is the knowledge that I have something to give, therefore, I must put myself out there.
 
There’s a saying that I always see online that really hits home – “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” That couldn’t be more true. If you want to succeed, you must put yourself out there, regardless of how nervous, or scared, or intimated you may be.  If we hid behind these self-imposed limits, we’d never accomplish anything.

Edible Fact!

Edible Fact!

I would like to take a guess that at least 85% of people on earth have experienced being overwhelmed. The other 15% are the problem. Just kidding, 100% of us are the problem. It’s like that movie Romy and Michelle’s Highschool reunion, when what’s her name discovered that while she always thought she was the victim of bullying, she never thought about how she played the bully to the girl less popular than her.
 
But I digress, there are times we are being pulled in a million directions. It’s not a feeling; it is an actual occurrence. Within one minute, I could have anywhere from 5 people or more asking me to do things for them. Whether it be answering a question, make a phone call, fix a problem, respond to an email, put out a fire, start a fire, open a door, you name it. All things taking you away from what you must accomplish to get an opportunity to breathe.
 
And it doesn’t matter, whether you have one business or three, all of us are suspectable to being overwhelmed.
 
The worst part is, we never want to admit it. Because it shows we are fallible. We agonize over what others will think about our dreams and aspirations; therefore, we must always be strong. We worry that we aren’t enough. We can’t handle it. I promise you all, when this feeling rears its ugly head, you are not alone, and it is temporary.
 
So how do you deal with it? For me, I take a break and breathe.

I know people have no clue what I have going on, or how many people simultaneously are always reaching out to me. All of us, including myself, tend to only see ourselves and our own needs. It’s an unfortunate truth that we don’t recognize the hardships of others until a person responds to us in a way that catches us off guard. Only then do we -hopefully- think about their personal experience and adjust our behavior accordingly. And might I add: if you’ve never experienced this self-reflection, then you need to really think about how you treat people.
 
I will also advise this, pay attention to those around you in your work life, just like friendships, ask yourself who is withdrawing more than they are depositing.
 
I also find writing therapeutic. There was definitely some inspiration behind this edible fact this week. 

Sun or Shade?

Sun or Shade?

Friendships. They are so immensely important in our lives and are always a topic of conversation with my girl group. However, the conversation throughout our lives shifts as our friendships grow and shift. I have been blessed to have had a core group of friends that I’ve known since college. And while it is more difficult to make friends as adults, I find the friends I have made later in life are my everything as well. I don’t know how I got them, but here they are loving each other, supporting each other. We give each other shoulders to cry on, genuinely celebrate each other successes, and we never judge. I am so proud of every one of them and am always so grateful for them. I just feel lucky. Because let’s face it, life is hard, and having these friendships is essential.
 
The other day I was catching up on my favorite podcast, We Can Do Hard Things, listening to Glennon and Abby talk with Reese Witherspoon about friendships. I found myself saying aloud, YES! Of course, there is a lot to unfold.
 
Number one, Reese Witherspoon is such an amazing and beautiful force in our world. She is a successful actress, but more importantly she parlayed her acting success to lend a voice to women who were often left silent to fulfill their dreams.
 
Second, she is a self-proclaimed “girl’s girl.” My friend group is a mix of both sexes, but ultimately, they are all about strong women with intelligence and confidence. Your people are your people, and that should always transcend what societal norms are out there.
 
Third, you should always assess your friends. If you get a feeling from them that not all is good in the relationship, you should ask yourself “are they withdrawing more than they are depositing?” This is something I had to ask myself at times, and I’ve encouraged others to do the same. It’s super important to reflect and assess yourself – we are not immune to being wrong.
 
And last was a lesson Reese learned from someone else. It was about the people in this world. One-third of the people of this world will have your back, build you up, and be the greatest sources of energy. One-third are just plain old neutral. They could take you or leave you. The bottom one-third are the haters, the nay-sayers, those that relish your failures, or worse, instill the fear of trying for the fear of failing. AVOID the bottom one-third.
 
If you find one of those people managed to filter into your circle, gradually back away. I have a tendency to try and fix people, so I have found myself in situations where these people have filtered in. Through these experiences, though, I have learned to pick up on early signals, and not let them draw me to the dark side.
 
As I said before, I am so blessed to have my circle. I love these people, and I will scream it to the stars above. I want them to have all the same happiness they bring me.