In contrast to last week’s post, I’m much more peppy. This past week, two dear friends did GREAT things that have left me feeling very inspired!!My first friend went to Ecuador for a week. She is adventurous and couldn’t coordinate a trip with friends, so she decided to go on her own. She joined a group but didn’t know anyone. She was nervous as the trip neared. However, the first day she got there, she sent me an email saying the group seemed nice and she was more at ease with her decision.
She had an amazing week, doing several physical activities and getting to know people from all over the world. She opened up and others opened up to her. She got to know a few people more than others: a woman and a man. On her last night, both the woman, the man and her tour guide said they were interested in her. She’s been trying to find a catch for a while. Then, she goes to a foreign country for a week and has three people wanting to get to know her better.
She reflected on her experiences and realized she had her guard down. She opened up easily and was confident in who she was. She wasn’t looking for love and yet kindled some sparks. She said that people tend to show their best selves when they’re traveling, but I think people show more of their real selves. She loves being active and the group she traveled with was focused on being active.
Doing what you love in a group is bound to connect you with others. The guy she’s most interested in lives in Dublin, which is far away from her Chicago home. Yet, instead of thinking “what if?” my friend is holding onto her confidence and listening to her heart. She’s ready to go out to Dublin this summer and “see about a boy”. It’s so unlike her but I’m really proud of her for opening up and being vulnerable. It takes guts to do that but the reward is always incredible.
My second friend is an athlete. Always has been. She started playing soccer when she was three and still does 32 years later. She is competitive in any and everything she does. She’s the only person I know who works out six times a week EVERY week. She’s the girl who sets goals and meets it EVERY time.
This year, she dislocated her shoulder. It took her out of her regular workout regime and soccer, which was a heart ache. Another heartbreaker was having two miscarriages within a few months of each other. Being the competitive gal she is, she told herself that if she miscarried the second baby she’d sign up for a full marathon. She had never been a regular runner but needed a challenge she could focus on, especially since she didn’t have her normal outlet: soccer.
The night she miscarried her second baby, she signed up for the San Diego Marathon. Being competitive like she is, she wanted to qualify for Boston, even though she doesn’t plan on running it. Yesterday, after months of training, she ran her first marathon. She not only finished, but she qualified for Boston by running 26.2 miles in 3 hours, 39 minutes and 36 seconds (she had to get under 3:40 to qualify). When we talked, she told me she had to run 8 minute, 23 second miles and she did exactly that–to the second.
When I heard the news I started to cry. She took on another challenge, something she could control when she couldn’t control what was happening to her body. She trained, she sweat, she pushed and she did what she wanted to do. I couldn’t be prouder of her!!
This week, I’m applauding my two friends. They may not think much of what they did but I do. I’m inspired by their boldness, their bravery and determination to get out there and do something out of their ‘ordinary’. I’m not sure what bold, brave goal I’m going to set for myself, but I’m certainly thinking about it.
This week, I ask you to either recognize something awesome you or a friend did. If you can’t think of anything, set a challenge for yourself. We can always push ourselves to do something that will make us better.
Until next week, know I’m clapping for Y-O-U!
🙂 Angela
