SMILE!

“As we run, we become.” – Amby Burfoot

I have this quote on my vision board, and it has so much meaning to it for me. When I started running a few years ago, it seemed like a chore; gradually, as I started running more, I saw such significant differences in my life, and more importantly, running helped me believe in myself. Confidence never came easily to me, partly because I believed other people when they told me I wasn’t smart enough. I was and always have been my biggest supporter. However, even when you are your biggest supporter, you have days when that confidence doesn’t stay consistent, and you start doubting yourself again. This same process occurred when I first started running. I realized that I could not hear my own voice because I had let people’s judgment of me become my own voice. When people told me I wouldn’t amount to anything in life, I believed them. When people said to me that I was stupid, I believed them. I let others’ opinions of me turn into my reality. When I started running and training for a marathon, everyone in my immediate family looked at me like I was crazy. For a second, I believed them and thought I shouldn’t run this marathon. However, I didn’t let that voice win this time. I stuck to the training plan and followed through with the running. In the process, I realized that the only voice that matters is my voice. Yes, people will judge you and try to tell you that running a marathon or being the best version of yourself is impossible! However, I surpassed their limitations of me and have run multiple marathons. Running has taught me to believe in myself relentlessly and has been my strong supporter. Through running, I have become the most confident version of myself and have learned that the only person that needs to believe in me is me.