Step by Step

This weekend was the big half-marathon. And, while I am hobbling around today, I finished.

For me, running has always been a very solo thing. I don’t want to run with other people. I don’t really like races. And a run club - no thank you. There is a lot to unpack here. A lot of this stems from some deep seated self conscious thoughts of - I am not good enough.

I don’t want to run with anyone, because I will slow them down. They will be bored or annoyed at my pace. I don’t like races because, running is hard enough and I don’t want to try to keep up with other people. I don’t like run clubs because that would infer everyone else there, likes running and well… I don’t. 

It’s wild how a simple activity can spur so much self talk and complication isn’t it? I honestly wasn’t even able to articulate these thoughts until just a few weeks ago when a joke was said and sent me into a complete tizzy. I had to pause and wonder why it caused me to react so harshly.

Here’s the thing though. This race, was fun. I was fast(er). And I am proud.

A few takeaways:

1. The things we are doing? They are for us and no one else. And that right there is the magic. Everyone is running their own race for different motives and purposes. Don’t lose track of yours because those are the only ones that matter. 

2. As we’re working on in the Arcadia Constellation this month - our thoughts determine our reality. I could have gone into this race thinking, uuuuuuugh here comes 2 hours of misery, and it probably would have been. Instead I choose to be grateful for the scenery and wave to everyone cheering and “honor a promise I made to myself” as a friend put it.  And that is exactly what happened. 

3. We really are better together. I was ~6 min faster than I intended. This simply had to with the group of people all coming together to conquer hard things. We all ran, and smiled and pushed our selves. And that energy propelled us all to be great.
   

   My mom texted me this the night before and, as mom’s often do, she had the perfect words:

We’re all running our own race and taking it step by step. Congratulate yourself and others for just showing up.

Even if you’re not a runner (I still question that title for myself) I think there are lessons we can pull forward into our families, our goals, our work and our lives.

Be Great, at whatever you do,

Sam   

PS. It’s not too late to join the Arcadia Constellation this month as we explore how our thoughts determine our reality.