I’m currently reading a book that I highly, highly recommend to all of my women readers out there. It’s called Becoming Me by Staci Eldredge. But, if you’re a guy, don’t stop reading. I promise this applies to you too.

On my flight to Seattle for a beautiful friend’s wedding last week, I was engrossed in the book and was jolted back into reality when I read this quote:

If you are soaring or practicing or tumbling in the proximity of others every now and again you will smack into them. Then a choice must be made. Either resume flying, perhaps a little wiser for the sting, or take your wings and go home. Retreat to the nearest safe perch.

This struck home.

If you’ve read my blog over the past 9 months, you’ve probably caught onto the fact that I was hurt by another person. It’s something very personal, very painful, and something that I will share once more time has passed, because I know I’m not the only person who’s gone through something like this.

The occurrence opened my eyes to a world I had never seen before. It caused me to lose my footing for a bit. I spent a lot of time questioning the decency of others and I lost quite a bit of trust in just about anyone who came into my life. And I lost, for a time, my sunny outlook on life.

So, when I read this quote, I equated it to my own life. I had been out in the world, and for this analogy we’ll use running, of course. I had been out in the world running. Happily. And I ran smack dab into someone who caused me to stumble. And, after getting my footing again, I kept running. And am still running. Except now I’m running faster and further and stronger.

It’s also the concept behind ARC Running (I know, I’ve had a lot of plugs lately, but this is applicable).

ARC Running is meant to be the place that gives you the tools to pick yourself back up and spring forward by creating a sense of community, faith, and running. But, if you don’t live in Charlotte, and can’t join us for run club, you can practice this in your own life.

And I’m still learning how to put this into practice. It’s not easy – hence, why I’m writing about it. The point is, we have to keep running. A bump along the way will hurt, will sting, and may cause us to look at the world differently, but we don’t do ourselves any justice if we stop soaring, practicing, tumbling or running. We don’t do ourselves justice and we don’t do others justice.

If it’s a person you’ve unexpectedly run into, and that person causes you to stumble a bit, keep running. Continue to open your heart to love. Love of the person who hurt you and love of yourself.

Just keep running and just keep loving. The world needs you to.

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Running Recap

This past week I spent four days in Seattle. It was my first time on the West Coast and I was elated to get out there and run some new paths. Apparently, running in downtown Seattle isn’t the “cool” thing to do… because I was the only person running. Seriously, the only one and everyone looked at me like I was a bit crazy. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it. The hills were a challenge and the sights were breathtaking. I’m slowly falling in love with the city in all of its gloomy, coffee-filled wonder. And black. Black clothing everywhere. Feels like a great place for a writer. Although next time I head out that way, I need to do some more research on best running paths.