Skip to main content

That Winding Path of Life

The path of life does funny things and the last year has taken me on quite the journey!

There's all those old sayings aren't there?

"When one door closes, another opens"
"If it doesn't kill you, it will make you stronger"
"Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things"
And my favorite: "Everything happens for a reason"

I believe that last one and here's why:

A year ago this time, I had just filed for divorce. My world was imploding. My heart was hurting and my head...well I can't remember where it was. When I heard a friend of mine was going to be doing a marathon with The Kyle Pease Foundation in one of my favorite cities, Washington, DC, I saw an opportunity to get out of my house and away from the pain.

That weekend, where my only plan was to hold up a poster board with something like, "Don't Shit Yourself, Mike!", ended up being one of the most eye opening and soul nourishing weekends of my life. Before that weekend, I had never really been around anyone with a disability, so I was pretty reluctant and a little scared. I ended up spending 3 days immersed in a foreign world and I'm so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone.

It started on a plane trying to feed THE Kyle Pease a Subway sandwich after only meeting him for the first time ever just 45 minutes prior. That was a borderline disaster, but he was so gracious. Although this was very clearly my first rodeo, it wasn't his and he made a very uncomfortable situation (for me) better. Especially when he just told me to give up because it was not going well. Have you ever tried to feed an adult human being an airport made Subway sandwich on an airplane?! Try it. It's the ultimate trust exercise.

Once in DC, we made it to our hotel and the wine started flowing. If you know me, you will not be shocked by this fact. Before the wine REALLY started flowing, a mom I had met briefly once before arrived with her son, Noah, in the car. I asked what I could do to help thinking I'd bring in bags or whatever, so I was shocked (and nervous) when she asked if I would sit with him in their room while she got settled.

I remember sitting in that hotel room with this child who I'd never interacted with and all I could do was talk. I had no idea, at the time, whether he understood what I was saying. I don't remember what I said to him, but I remember how it felt when he smiled. I can't tell you why or how, but that quiet, tiny moment burst my heart wide open. I didn't say anything to anyone as we sat downstairs getting to know each other while I drank my fair share of red wine on an empty stomach...

I spent the rest of the weekend watching these incredible people being pushed by other incredible people on a course lined with incredibly attractive marines. To say it was a good weekend is an understatement.

I got back to Atlanta and thrown back into my muddy life and all I knew was that I wanted to be a bigger part of this family I had found. I sort of forced my way in, but they welcomed me (and continue to do so) with open arms.

This weekend, we go back to DC and this time it's a little different...I'm not nervous. I'm excited! I'll be with my friends who, while they may not realize it, continue to inspire me daily. Especially in the darkest of moments. I get to celebrate a year of incredible experiences and new friendships. And I get to watch new athletes as they feel all the feels of a first time event with us.

My path is bumpy and winding and sometimes I'm up to my eyeballs in mud, but I'm learning how to navigate it all. I've learned that if I take a deep breath and step outside of what feels safe, I can find such beauty in this life. And that makes all that pain worth it.

Wish us luck as we support some awesome marathon runners this weekend! #MCMKPF16!!!

And, if you want to learn more about The Kyle Pease Foundation, shoot me a note or visit their website HERE.



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Goodbye.

 “I don’t know if I should congratulate you or console you.” - Craig “How about both?” - Me This was a conversation in our kitchen earlier this week. After a year and a half of weekly therapy, I had my last session with my therapist Tuesday. Not because I was over it or because it wasn’t working or because he retired. Nope. Because we got to a place where we could both say I’ve got the tools I need to move on. I have to say that there is no timeline for therapy and every situation is unique. I moved on from intensive therapy with my therapist because that it was worked for ME. I am certainly no expert and I have a feeling this isn’t the end of my therapy forever, but I do know that my experience with the right person allowed me to heal in ways I literally never thought possible. And it gave me the experience of a healthy “goodbye”. I was never prepared for that, so when we set an end date (not-so-coincidentally my Nanna’s birthday), it was hard to process. No one talks about

November 19th

There's apparently something about November 19th and changes in my life... 2 years ago: moving out of the ex's house 1 year ago: announcing that I was making the big move to beautiful Colorado Today: planning my next big adventure! After 2 years of major life changes and constant adjustment, I'm finally feeling like a settled human being. So, I've decided that 2018 is going to be the year I push myself physically and mentally. 2 half marathons are on the schedule along with the most exciting part: a multi day bike adventure with an assisted athlete here in Colorado in support of The Kyle Pease Foundation !!  I've learned enough about myself that I will not agree to push myself hard physically for any length of time unless there is another person who is behind the WHY. Doing this in partnership with another athlete who necessarily wouldn't be able to otherwise, is enough to get my ass off my couch and get it done! Details are still being worke

Patsy.

A friend sent this video to me and when I watched it, I was struck more by the feelings it brought up around the content than the story itself.  Christen Reighter's story is an interesting and frustrating insight into what it means to NOT want a child. I invite you to watch this. Her experience is not unique and needs to be talked about. Even if you have kids. Or want them. What struck me most was what she says during her TedTalk: "I have believed having children was an extension of womanhood, not the definition." Truth is, I've been struggling with this lately. Not the fact that I'm longing for children. I'd be fibbing if I said there is a very tiny part of me that wonders what this will feel like when I get to the end of life. HOWEVER. That feeling isn't strong enough for me to want to find out. I don't feel like having children should be thought of as a "keeping the fingers crossed" kind of situation. If you aren't sure you'l