DON'T QUIT 'TIL YOU GOT NOTHING LEFT

Not really sure what got into me today, but I did something different. Something unlike me.

I walked out the gate, got on the jogging trail...and took off running.

I have no idea how far I ran. I stopped several times (hello?! I'm not a runner!), but kept going. It was one of the coldest days we've had this season, but for some reason I needed it. And it felt unbelievably great. My legs fairly quickly chimed in with, "What the...?! No one consulted us about this!". My lungs were burning from the cold air. My feet were thoroughly pissed. My head felt great.

I thought about so much. Tried to clear up my reasoning on so many things. Decisions. Choices. People. And it helped.

Only once did I get distracted when a very grungy-looking man actually stepped out from out of the trees and stood in the trail in front of where I was running. Not sure of what to do and knowing just enough self-defense to probably get myself hurt, I looked him square in the eye, said, "Hey...how's it going." and kept running.

I came to some decisions. Most of which I already knew the answers to, but hadn't quite decided how to make them happen. Now I know. Once I put my mind to something, I'm pretty good (some may say stubborn) about sticking to my decisions.

I've gotten really good at putting the brakes on. I try to never get in the way of anyone else's happiness while trying to fulfill my own. Too many friends in my life have done so much for me and my kids over the recent months and I just want to pay it forward. I'm not one to interfere. I am one to help when asked though.

So today I figured out how to move forward with the decisions I've made. It doesn't mean it will be easy. But I know what I'm doing is right for not just me, but everyone considered. The decisions we make that prove the toughest to follow through on produce rewards we can be the most proud of.

I told a friend the other night that when we put our hearts out there, part of the risk is it gets broken. Plain and simple, it's just part of it. However, that isn't always the case. Sometimes...just sometimes...love gets returned. Even where you thought it would never happen. And I'm not just talking about with people. We put our hearts into far more than relationships and the risk is the same. Heartbreak or fulfillment. You never know.

There's a scene from a movie (Facing the Giants) that always comes to mind when I feel somewhat defeated. Like I can't dig deep enough to find more strength to make the decisions I know I need to make. Is the acting great? No. Is the message on-point. NO DOUBT. Go rent it NOW if you haven't seen it. You will be glad you did.

These are the times we negotiate with our bodies (and minds) for more strength than we ever thought we had.

Enjoy: