Simple Moments: Self Moments

On Tuesday evenings a group of people gather at Up and Running here in Dayton to get in an hours worth of running and enjoy the company of others. They are people from all walks of life, who do all sorts of different things, but who get together to enjoy the sport of running. I started going to improve my running and learn to run longer distances. I keep going back for the wonderful company and great friendships that develop over the miles.

I was on my Tuesday run this week when we started to talk about "Self Moments". I was running with two ladies who began to share stories of their lives and of moments that they did something on their own that made them feel a stronger sense of self. Some of their experiences were tough ones, ones that they wouldn't wish on anyone and would rather not relive, but those experiences lead them to self moments where they knew they could stand on their own. Other experiences that they shared were ones of hope and of love; of having kids, getting married, and of overcoming obstacles to stand tall and proud in who they had become. As I listened to the conversation and reminisced about some of the self moments I have had myself, I felt inspired to be surrounded by so many people who were willing to give of themselves and share their stories to impact others. They are people who realize that self moments are so important, for in those moments, we become more and more the people that we are meant to be.

I hope that my life is filled with self moments. Moments of unfailing hope and unshakable faith. Moments of unconditional love and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. And also moments of sorrow and of hurt; moments that are so tough that I never want to experience them again and others that are so beautiful I can't relive them enough. I want my life to be full of experiences and full of moments where I can stand up and be proud of who I am and who I am becoming no matter what the circumstance. And in these self moments, I hope that I will be as open and sharing as these ladies were so that my own experiences can uplift and inspire others.

I had a self moment recently: Crossing the finish line of my 2nd half marathon in Indianapolis. I had set a goal to not walk at all this time and to finish around 2 hours and 15 minutes. It was the last mile and I was tired. TIRED as in EXHAUSTED. I didn't want to run anymore, I wanted to stop and walk and get some water and maybe an ice cream cone (or two). I wanted to stop.Right.There. But I wasn't running by myself this time, I had a friend beside me. A friend who wouldn't let me stop and a friend who pushed me all the way to the finish line. And when I did finally cross the finish line and had met all of my goals I felt proud of myself. So proud. Because I didn't give up. And because, this half marathon, I had a friend to run beside me.

Becky and I running on the Indianapolis 500 track. I know its a little blurry, but its difficult to take a good picture when you're running as FAST as we were :-)