Happy One Year Fitness Journey!

So I've hit my year mark from my first run. From the time when I finally said, I'm taking care of me.

I normally don't run on Sunday. It's my one absolute no running day. The one complete day I use for family, church and rest. I got a burst of major nervous energy all of a sudden that I imagine most people use walking for. The way they may release that energy, reflect on what matters and regroup. All things that a Sunday is for (in my opinion). So I laced up and headed out to clear my mind, reflect and regroup with what works for me. That's in the form of a run.

As I was running west into the sunset I almost captured it on camera and then decided against it. I decided to enjoy the moment, take it all in, watch the beauty of the way it changed as I felt the burn in my lungs and the ache in my legs. It was a cloudy afternoon so it covered some of it, but the colors that broke through on the clouds was beautiful. I watched it change from a bright pink, almost cotton candy like, to a dark pink/orange and then to a deep red/purple/blue. As I was running I was thinking about my past year and years before and what those meant to me.

Then as I rounded the corner into about 2.3 miles or so the song by Natasha Bedingfield "Freckles" came on. It's a slower song, not one to use for a quick pace, but I tuned into the lyrics of that song as I watched the sun set.

"Freckles"

I used to care so much about
What others think about
I almost didn't have
A thought of my own

The slightest remark
Would make me embark
On a journey of self-doubt
But that was a while ago

This girl has got stronger
And if I knew then what I know now
I would have told myself
Don't worry any longer, it's okay

'Cause a face without freckles
Is like a sky without the stars
Why waste a second
Not loving who you are

Those little imperfections
Make you beautiful, lovable, valuable
They show your personality inside your heart
Reflecting who you are

Who you are
Who you are
Who you are

I wondered if I could trade my body
With somebody else in magazines
With the whole world fall at my feet

I felt damn worthy
And would blame my failures
On the ugliness I could see
When the mirror looked at me

Sometimes I still feel like that little girl
Who doesn't belong in her own world
But I'm getting better
And reminding myself

That a face without freckles
Is like a sky without the stars
Why waste a second
Not loving who you are

Those little imperfections
Make you beautiful, lovable, valuable
They show your personality inside your heart
Reflecting who you are

Reflecting who you are
Reflecting who you are

'Cause a face without freckles
Is like the sky without the stars
Why waste a second
Not loving who you are

Those little imperfections
Make you beautiful, lovable, valuable
They show your personality inside your heart
Reflecting who you are

Reflecting who you are
Reflecting who you are
Reflecting who you are
Reflecting who you are

How fitting that this song would come on right in that moment. I've always believed that things happen for a reason. I needed to be on the road tonight. I needed to watch that sun set. This song needed to come on right then and even my pace slowed as I listened to the words.

I'm different than anyone else. My journey looks different from everyone else's. I'm me. I'm learning to be the best me there is. I'm learning to accept all my imperfections and love who I am. It's the best gift I can give myself and the best lesson I can teach my children. So here's to what was an amazing year and for more wonderful years in the future. Thanks to all who join me on this journey and who help lift me up when I don't feel strong enough to do it myself in that moment. Thanks to all those who allow me into their lives and let me share in their journey to gain encouragement from you all and let me cheer you on. I'll be forever grateful to all of you.