Tag Archives: writing

Now what?

Ok. The half marathon is over. I have officially achieved the goal that has been in the back of my mind ever since I started running about a year ago. I put in the training. I put in the sweat. I put in the fear and worry. And now here I am. I did it. I’m a half marathoner!

Sigh.

Now what the heck do I do with myself??

I’m telling you, I was barely home from the race before I was doing an online search to try to find another one. This girl is hooked! Now that I’ve felt that euphoric feeling at the finish line, I want to feel it again and again and again. And I don’t just mean more half marathons. Yep, that’s right. I’m even looking into a full marathon. If I can do a half, I can do a full, right? Let’s do this! I’m stoked!

But……I have to be patient.

Sigh. The biggest dirty word in my vocabulary, and it starts with a “P.” Patience. Blech.

I have oftentimes made reference to how running and relationships have a lot in common. Especially for me. And I think this is going to be another good example. (And, as I’ve discovered since I’ve started blogging…this will probably ring true for a lot of you as well. I’ve never been more aware of how alike we all really are until I started this blog and got so much feedback from all of you about how you’ve identified with so many of the things I’ve said. Isn’t it nice to know we’re all in this together?)

So, I have often felt myself feeling this same feeling of euphoria at times during a relationship. You have a good night out together…a sweet, tender moment…a milestone of some sort, and suddenly, you start to get a little ahead of yourself.

“Look how well we look in that picture…we are PERFECT for each other!”

“Look what a good weekend we had…I want to spend every waking moment with him/her!”

“Look how much we enjoy being together…we should get married!”

Whoaaaa now.

I’m not the only one who has been guilty of these thoughts, and I know it. I have female friends. I’ve heard them echoed from them as well. Why the heck do we do that? Why do we get in such a hurry to push past the happy moments of “now” into what we think will be the happier moments of “tomorrow”?

Chill!

Ya know? Just chill.

Bask in the moment. Enjoy it for a while. Enjoy this stage and celebrate this victory, this success, and don’t be in such a hurry to get to the next stage. Because you know something about that next stage? That next stage is hard. Getting to this point you’re at now wasn’t all that easy, remember? There were tough times where you thought you wouldn’t make it. Obstacles that almost stopped you. Outside influences that almost kept you from your goal. Am I talking about running or relationships here? What’s the difference really? Whether we’re talking about sore muscles and sweat in training, or awkward misunderstandings and arguments with dating, this same thing stands true. Each phase takes work. Hard work. And yes, the end result is rewarding and it is worth it. It’s wonderful. But there are no shortcuts.

None.

So, rather than being in such a hurry to jump to the next phase, maybe it’s ok to hang out here for a while. The next phase will be there when you’re ready. In fact, the more time you decide to wait to start that next phase, the more prepared you’ll be.

And the more prepared you are, the more glorious the result.

***

“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.”
– Beverly Sills

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings, Running. Tags: blog, change, dating, friendship, half marathon, heart, inspiration, inspirational, love, marathon, motivation, motivational, New River Marathon, passion, photos, Quotes, race, relationships, runner, running, writing. 2 Comments

May. ’13

I did it!

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”
– T.S. Eliot

Well, it’s official. I’m a half marathoner.

And let me tell ya…it was HARD! This course was definitely no walk in the park. (Ok, admittedly there was some walking, but there was NO park. I swear.)

I really am so proud of myself. Somewhere deep inside of me, I truly wondered if I could do it. During my long training runs, my legs were so heavy and so weak. I never made it up to a full 13.1-mile run in training (11 was my furthest), so I was so scared that I might not actually be able to make it that far. Especially on this extremely tough course. It helped me though to see quotes like the one by marathoner Alberto Salazar: “I had as many doubts as anyone else. Standing on the starting line, we’re all cowards.” Made me feel less alone. Made me realize that what I was feeling was what most everyone feels or had felt at some point in their running process. Even elite marathoners.

But, alas, I did it. I made it!

And here’s a short list of awesome things from the race:

I made a running buddy along the course. He was an older man from the Winston-Salem, NC area. Silly me – I didn’t even ask his name. Nor did he ask mine. But we leap-frogged each other throughout the race. Kept each other company at times. Chit-chatted about our jobs, our families, etc. It was nice running a half-marathon and having a conversation every so often.
I saw a shirt that said “Slow and steady, my ass! This is my top speed!” That made me giggle.
I saw a shirt that said “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1).” That made me smile.
I saw my friend Kelly who broke her foot during training for this race, out there running anyway after only having been out of her cast for about 2 or 3 weeks now. I was in awe.
I got “I love you” and “You got this!” texts from the man I love during the race. Priceless.
I got “Run Forrest Run!” texts from my coworker during the race. Sigh.
I got close to the finish feeling like I might not make it, and rounded a curve and saw my boyfriend Richard’s friends (ok, my friends) standing on the side to cheer me on – the same people who I cheered on during their half marathons and marathons in New York last year. That made me cry.
I got to the finish line and saw Richard and my son Jeffrey waiting for me (after their own 5K race) with smiles and cheers. And saw my son (who never ever EVER remembers or cares to take a picture of anything) poised with his camera waiting to snap a picture of me crossing the finish line.
I got this from my boyfriend as a post-race gift:

The shirt says “13.1 wuz worth it.” And yes, it was. Awesome gift. Awesome man. Lucky girl.

And probably my favorite moment from the race:

My son’s dad called him to see how the race went. And without missing a beat, Jeffrey immediately began telling him my finishing time and details from the half marathon. Momentarily forgetting that he himself had just finished second in his age group in his own 5K and won an award for it. Talk about a proud mom. That definitely started the waterworks flowing, and I’m not sure he even realized what he had done. In fact, I’m sure he didn’t. Feeling my son’s pride in me was like nothing else.

I know there are a million more things I could list that I loved about this race. But those are the highlights. Point is – this was a beautiful experience that I won’t soon be forgetting.

So, in honor of all that I have overcome in training for this race, and in life in general – two divorces, two bouts with cancer, a bad car accident during training, a breakup at the beginning of training (which ended up in a glorious reconciliation mid-training), and just a general past filled with doubt and uncertainty about myself and my abilities – this race is for you.

I can do anything.

And so can you.

***

“The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.”
-John Bingham

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings, Running. Tags: accident, blog, change, changed, family, friendship, half marathon, health, heart, inspiration, inspirational, marathon, motivation, motivational, New River Marathon, passion, performance, photos, Quotes, race, run, runner, running, writing. 9 Comments

May. ’13

So Long, Comfort Zone

“The further you can get away from yourself, the more challenging it is. Not to be in your comfort zone is great fun.”
– Benedict Cumberbatch, actor

Well, here it is. My last official blog entry before I become a half-marathoner. Originally, I planned for yesterday’s post to be the last. But I decided I had just a little bit more to say. I know….shocking.

I saw the above quote and it really made me think. First of all, the quote is by an actor. I’m an actor too, so I really identify with it. Each and every time I step foot out onto a stage, I am terrified. It’s true. I’ve been acting for as long as I can remember, but still…it happens every single time. And yet I keep going back for more. Why?

This is why:

I step out of my comfort zone and on to the magic of the stage. And I’m transformed. Before I know it, the fear is gone, and I become whomever I’m supposed to become for those two hours under the spotlights.

And now, this weekend, it’s time to do that again.

Tonight will be the first forage out of my comfort zone. I’m singing in public for only the second time in my life, aside from musicals. Musicals are different though. I’m someone else when I’m singing in a show. But in front of that little microphone on that little stage in our local restaurant/bar, I’m just Melissa. And let me tell ya – that is SCARY. The first time I did this, I was terrified. (I may have even fumbled a word or two but don’t tell anybody…) But I did it. And it didn’t suck too bad, I don’t think. Tonight, I’m ready to do it again. And you know what’s funny?

I’m not really all that scared this time.

Why is that? Well, I guess it’s because I’ve already faced that demon. I faced it, conquered it, and now I know it’s no big deal. Now I’m ready to get up there beside the man I love and make some music with him. It’s worth the nerves because it makes me happy. It makes my heart happy.

It’s magic.

I know now what it feels like outside of the comfort zone when it comes to singing there. I know the joy that comes from walking away from that microphone after having done something that I thought I couldn’t do. I know the pride that comes from overcoming fear and just throwing caution to the wind in order to just go for it.

Which brings me to tomorrow. I’m ready to feel all of that all over again. Only this time, my “stage” will be a 13.1-mile running course.

I’ve never run a half marathon before. I’m scared. It’s outside of my comfort zone, for sure. But just like overcoming the fear to sing, I’ll overcome this fear as well. And I’m going to have fun. And I’m going to love it. And I’m going to be proud.

Just like stepping onto the stage in theatre, it’s time to step across that starting line of fear. For a few hours (hopefully not too many!), I’ll again be transformed. I’ll take that leap out of my comfort zone into new and unchartered territory.

Time to step into the role of a half-marathon runner.

Time for some magic.

***

“Magic is believing in yourself.
If you can do that, you can make anything happen.”
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings, Running. Tags: acting, blog, change, changed, comfort zone, comfortable, half marathon, health, heart, inspiration, inspirational, marathon, motivation, motivational, New River Marathon, passion, photos, Quotes, race, runner, running, singing, theatre, writing. 3 Comments

May. ’13

Community

Com·mu·ni·ty \kə-ˈmyü-nət-ē\: a unified body of individuals
– Merriam Webster Dictionary

The more I get into running, the more I realize what a community we runners really are. And these last few weeks have driven that point home for me more than ever before.

First of all, of course, there was the Boston marathon bombing. Have any of us ever seen such an outpouring of love and respect among our fellow runners? So many runners donned their printed out “bibs” in honor of Boston and logged mile after mile in honor of all who were affected. Each and every one of us knew how easily it could have been us. I have never witnessed the Boston marathon, but I did travel with a group of friends to watch the Wineglass Marathon in New York last year. The place I was camped out to get pictures of my friends as they finished, was exactly the spot where the bombs went off in Boston. It easily could have been me. Or someone I love. And every runner feels the same. We are empathetic towards our fellow runners and their families because it hits so close to home. We don’t know what to do to help, so we run. We run in honor and respect for the members of our community, whether we “know” them or not. They are our family.

And on that same note, I have made a few dear friends through running whom I have yet to even lay eyes on.

When I first started running a little over a year ago, I used the Couch to 5K Running plan to get started. I then “liked” the Facebook page of the same name so I could watch other people through their struggles and successes to know that I was not alone. Before long, I began posting as well, sharing my own stories and milestones. It quickly became my primary source for motivation and inspiration and is, without a doubt, the reason I stuck to the plan and was successful. On this site, I interacted with many people, but a few in particular stood out. One of whom is my friend, Connie. Connie was a non-runner who was determined to run a 5K for her 60th birthday. I was inspired by her story, so I followed her closely and soon began to chat back and forth since we were at the same point in the plan. We “graduated” almost simultaneously, together with our other e-friend Kristen, and have since all remained close friends and fellow runners. We are even making plans to all meet in Rhode Island to run a 5K together in the fall. (Kristen is from Massachusetts, Connie from Rhode Island, and I am from Virginia).

Yesterday, I went to my mailbox and found this:

A gift from Connie. A running t-shirt that says “EyeBeeLeaf.” The note says:

“We believe anything is possible.
We work hard to achieve our goals.
Here’s a gift from Connie to wear when you run.
Eye Bee Leaf.”

How amazing is it that this friend, whom I have never even met, cares enough about me and about running in general to so generously reach out and provide support to another runner? This truly is a community. A family. And it was no coincidence that this shirt arrived just a few days before my first half marathon that is coming up on Saturday. As my friend Connie likes to say, “It’s Kismet!”

I so can’t wait to meet my friends in person in September!

And while we’re on the subject, check out this message I received on my last blog entry about my fear of this upcoming half marathon:

“Good luck! From Melbourne, Australia!
I just wanted to let you know how much I’m enjoying your writing. I found you when I was searching running blogs as I’m a new runner myself and totally obsessed. You write so evocatively and thoughtfully, and I often find myself smiling or nodding along to your musings! Best of luck with your half, you’ll smash it!
Warm regards, Zoë “

Wow. Just wow. 🙂 All the way across the world, in Australia, is another member of my “community.” And I didn’t even know about her until today.

I also received this message from my local friend Shannon this morning with regard to this half marathon:

“There will be a great adrenalin rush in the beginning, but remember to pace yourself and run your race.
There will be people who pass you and you’ll feel you are not doing good enough, but pace yourself and run your race.
You will worry that you won’t be able to finish at some point, but just keep going at your pace and run YOUR race.
There will come a time when you will think “I got this!” But still pace yourself…and run your race!
It’s a lot like life.”

I hope she doesn’t mind my sharing her poetic words. They were too good to keep to myself.

So, see what I mean? We are such a caring community of runners. Such a family of like-minded individuals from all over, who all know what it is like to change our life one footstep at a time. I’m so honored and humbled to be a part of such an amazing group of people.

I am a runner.

***

“Running is not, as it so often seems, only about what you did in your last race or about how many miles you ran last week. It is, in a much more important way, about community, about appreciating all the miles run by other runners, too.”
– Richard O’Brien

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings, Running. Tags: blog, boston, change, changed, community, EyeBeeLeaf, family, friendship, half marathon, health, heart, inspiration, inspirational, marathon, motivation, motivational, New River Marathon, passion, performance, photos, Quotes, race, runner, runners, running, tshirts, writing. 3 Comments

May. ’13

The Wait

Well, it’s here. This is the final countdown to my first half marathon – a 13.1-mile scenic race filled with unbelievably steep hills in the mountains of North Carolina. It’s only 3 days away. And how do I feel? Prepared? Upbeat? Optimistic? Ready to apply all of these weeks of training to what I know will be an ultimate success?

Ha. I wish.

I am TERRIFIED.

I am wondering what the heck I was thinking signing up for this thing! People come from all around to run in this popular race. Real runners. People who have been running for longer than the measly year that I have been running. People who are fast. People who are fit. (People who didn’t just drink a Strawberry Sunkist for breakfast.)

I’m thinking I should have bought this to wear during the race:

Because that’s how I’m feeling right now. Can I really do this? Am I really prepared?

Anyone who has ever trained for a race knows that the last week before the race is what we call “tapering.” No more long runs. No more real “training,” per se. It’s basically just waiting. Yes, you can do a 2 or 3-mile run here and there. But those long runs that prove to yourself that you really do have what it takes to put the time and effort into it that’s required? Yeah, those runs are gone. It’s time to relax. Rebuild. And wait.

Sigh. Wait.

That, my friends, is something I am NOT good at.

This waiting is driving me crazy. I feel like I should be out there every day trying to run 13.1 miles to show myself that I can do it. I feel like I should go to the gym during every spare second of my day. I feel like I should only be eating tofu or something. Oh heck, I don’t have a clue what I should be doing. But sitting here waiting just feels…wrong. It goes against my nature. And it’s making me grumpy.

Here’s another shirt I need:

So, yes. It’s a rough week. This can definitely not be chalked up to the finest week of my half marathon training, that’s for sure. My positive mood and my warrior attitude is taking a temporary hiatus. But that’s all it is. Just temporary.

Because I know what will happen Saturday.

Saturday, I will be standing amongst thousands of other runners who have had the same kind of week I’ve had, more or less. Who have also had the ups and downs of training. Who have also, at times, doubted their abilities but yet rose above that doubt and walked to that starting line anyway. Just like I will. I will stand among fellow runners, fellow humans, fellow fighters. And I will do what I didn’t think I would be able to do.

“Tears streamed down my face as I crossed the finish line. I was a new person, a runner.”
-Thomas King

This will be me.

I will add a check mark beside the “half marathon” entry on my bucket list. And I will be proud. So very proud.

I am prepared. I am ready.

***

“Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.”
– Napoleon Hill

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings, Running. Tags: blog, change, changed, half marathon, health, heart, inspiration, inspirational, marathon, motivation, motivational, New River Marathon, passion, photos, Quotes, race, runner, running, running shirts, writing. 4 Comments

Apr. ’13

I’m a Monkey

MissyRambles

So, I heard something today that shouldn’t have any psychological significance. I should have listened to it, saw it for the literal story that it was probably meant to be, and went on with my day. But nope, not me. Not Melissa. I have to think and analyze everything until there’s nothing left. So, here goes.

I keep wondering why I have let such a short (albeit intense) relationship get to me as bad as this last one did. I always pout when a relationship doesn’t work out (which has happened PLENTY of times), but this one was different. This one cut deep. Not just because I miss my friend (which I do), but also because it has made me question who I am. It has made me question my worthiness, my intuition, and most importantly – my inability to fully trust another person. And I have no idea why this is happening. But I heard…

View original post 482 more words

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings. Tags: blog, heartbreak, relationships, writing. 1 Comment

Apr. ’13

I am a Writer

“I firmly believe that doing what you love involves doing what you once loved as a kid. That thing you were good at. That thing you’d sneak away from your chores to do. Your history tells you everything you ever wanted to know about living your dream.”
– Catherine Hughes

I have been wanting to do a blog about writing for a while. (In other words, I’ve wanted to write about writing.) But I didn’t really know where to go with it. I write about everything that matters to me – my kids, my boyfriend, my family, my running, my acting, etc. – but I’ve never known exactly how to write about writing. Just seemed like an odd thing to write about. A little redundant even. But yet, it nagged at me. Somehow, I needed to do it.

And then I read a blog by Catherine Hughes that contained the quote above. (Here’s a link to the blog if you want to check it out. It’s a good one!)

And finally, I realized where I wanted to go with this.

I am a writer.

Wow. Just saying that sounds odd. A writer. Me? Really?

Like the quote implies, maybe a small part of you knew who you were and who you were meant to be from the very beginning. What did you sneak away to do as a kid? Me? I wrote. Really. I can remember this old trapper keeper (oh yeah, we’re taking it old school now) that I used to have that was filled to the brim with little poems and notes that I would write as a pre-teen. They started getting pretty good when I got into my teenage years (even if I do say so myself). Heck, even back as far as when I was pre-school age, I would make my dad and grandma “play school” with me, and my assignments to them (I was the teacher, of course) were always to write stories or essays. My grandma still has some of these in storage and they are a hoot to read. I was not a very gracious teacher. I didn’t see an “A” in the bunch. There went their dreams of being writers…

Now, granted, I don’t make money being a writer. It’s not my profession, so to speak. But does that mean I’m not one? Nope. Does that mean I’m not “living my dream” because my paycheck doesn’t come from what I love? Of course not.

I am a writer.

Yes, I have a “regular” job. I’m a real estate paralegal. While real estate may not be my “dream” per se, I’m actually kind of good at it. It’s what I know, and all I’ve done since college. Am I ‘selling out’ because I’m not following my dreams to be a writer? Of course not. I’m doing what it takes to take care of myself and my kids. To keep food in our mouths and a roof over our heads. I’m being a responsible adult. I’m not going to win any awards for that. No nobel peace prize officials are going to be knocking on my door to alert me of my candidacy based on my excellent ability to close a loan refinance or cut the crusts off a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. But I don’t need that. Watching my kids grow up in comfort and become wonderful young adults is all the award I need.

But in the down times, in the quiet times, I sneak off and become me. I write.

And for the longest time, I kept that somewhat secret. My childhood trapper keeper eventually turned to a folder, which then turned into a file on the computer, which then morphed into a private blog, and which now has become this public blog you’re reading now. I’ve always been a writer. I’m just finally admitting it, and taking that scary leap into exposing my writing for others to see.

No, I’m not gaining fame and fortune with my writing. But I am indeed living my dream. And I thank each and every one of you who haven’t run away.

***

“The dream was always running ahead of me. To catch up, to live for a moment in unison with it, that was the miracle.”
– Anais Nin

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings. Tags: blog, change, essay, inspiration, inspirational, motivation, motivational, poetry, Quotes, writer, writing. 2 Comments

Apr. ’13

Authority

This blog is kind of about politics. And kind of not.

Mostly, it’s about respect.

I’ll start by admitting that I am not into politics. I’m just not. I may be the most “not into” politics of anyone you’ll ever know. I know myself, and I know to stay out of it to avoid a full-on high-blood-pressure-induced heart attack. So I steer clear of the subject.

Well, most of the time.

So, while it’s true that I’m not “into” politics, the thing that I am most definitely “into” is people. Humanity. Love for your fellow human. You know, that whole “do unto others as you’d have them do unto you” stuff.

Well, something ‘political’ that I saw yesterday just absolutely pissed me off.

I’m not going to lower myself to post it here for you to see. It disgusts me and I’m not going to spread it any further than it has to go. But basically, there’s a picture going around comparing the two Boston marathon bombing terrorist suspects to our president and vice-president. Saying that both are taking our ‘rights’ away (it’s some BS about gun rights) and therefore implying that they should be grouped in the same category.

Did I mention that this pissed me off?

Again, I’m not political. I don’t have a strong opinion about gun rights or any other topic that whoever created that picture was attempting to address. But what I do have is this: respect for authority.

Let me tell you a story.

When my son Jeffrey was 3 years old, he despised his pre-school teacher. And to be quite honest, I wasn’t too thrilled with her myself. Well, Jeffrey, in his 3-year-old glory, decided that he would take action to show his teacher how much he disliked her. He somehow discovered which car in the parking lot was hers (unfortunately for her, it was one that was parked closest to the fence at the playground), and then proceeded to do what a 3-year-old deemed an appropriate way to show contempt – he threw rocks at it.

Of course, his dad and I got called into the school. And, of course, he got in trouble for it. But during that incident, and in other incidents to come over the years, I tried to instill something into Jeffrey. Whether or not you like someone or whether or not you agree with them, one thing has to exist at all times. And that is respect. Respect for each other, yes. But especially a respect for authority. They are there for a reason. You don’t have to like it. You don’t have to like them. But you have to respect them for the role that they play.

As Jeffrey gets older and more mature, I see this respect growing in leaps and bounds. He still gets angry, as we all do, but he has learned to keep that anger in check and not blow up every time he feels the urge. Basically, he has learned to ‘stop throwing rocks’ so to speak.

Now, if some adults could just learn that.

Can’t we just stop it? Just stop it. Agree with him, disagree with him, like him, hate him – I don’t care. But remember that he is the president of our country. This country that gives you the freedom to run your mouth? Yeah, he runs it. If you don’t like him, vote him out. Isn’t it great that you have that option? Until then, respect the man and allow him to do his job. If you have issues you disagree on – great. Voice your opinion. About the issues. Not the person. There is a big difference between feeling strongly enough to voice your opinion about a subject and choosing to bash another human being.

Put your rocks down and grow up.

***

“Men are respectable only as they respect.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings. Tags: authority, blog, family, history, inspiration, motivation, politics, president, Quotes, relationships, respect, writing. 2 Comments

Apr. ’13

Brutal Beginnings

Isn’t that picture just so darn cute?? Look at the wittle chickies… I could just sit here and look at their cute little selves all day long. Awwwww. Here chickie chickie chickie…

Ok, sorry. I’ll get to the point now.

So, I just finished the last long run of my half marathon training plan. I’m 10 days away from the race, so it’s time to taper down and do shorter runs to give myself some rest in preparation for the big day. I’m a little nervous since I missed a few weeks of training due to various life circumstances, but I think I’m ready.

There’s something I’ve learned in the past few weeks during these attempts at longer runs – if I can get past the first 3 miles, it’s all downhill from there. Well, not literally downhill…but you know what I mean. Because the beginning of a run? Whew. Let me tell ya. I don’t care how long you’ve been running or how far you’re able to go – the beginning just flat-out sucks. I’ve heard the saying a million times – the hardest step for a runner is the one out the front door. That is so incredibly true. (And those next few steps during the first couple of miles are no picnic either.) Yes, the beginning is definitely the hardest.

And, think about it. Isn’t it like that with most things?

For what was definitely not the first time, I began to think about the correlation between running and relationships.

Think about the beginning of a relationship. Now, I’m not talking about the dating portion. That part is usually awesome. Everyone is putting on their best masks and presenting the finest portion of themselves. So, of course, nothing can go wrong there. There’s nothing not to like because all the negative is hidden under the costume. So, no – it’s not dating I’m talking about here. I’m talking about the beginning of the relationship. The moment when you cross over into ‘potentially forever’ territory.

This is when it gets hard.

All of a sudden those things that were soooo cute before just aren’t so cute anymore. His precious spontaneity turns into inability to make plans. Her perfectly groomed makeup and hair turns into something that takes forever to achieve and makes you late for events. His carefree attitude that was so fun before turns into him not being able to take anything serious. Her loving adoration turns into suffocation.

Isn’t it funny how that happens?

The beginning is always the hardest.

Now is when you have to make the decision to proceed. Just the same as it is with running, you have to remember why you’re here and why you’re doing what you’re doing. You’re taking a chance. You’re putting effort into something that matters. You know? You wouldn’t be here if there wasn’t a reason. The things worth having usually don’t come easy. But, as it is with running, you wouldn’t be doing this if there wasn’t something inside you that knows that you need to. You wouldn’t be training for your first 5k/10k/half marathon/marathon, whatever, if it wasn’t something that you were drawn to. Something that you know deep down inside that you are truly capable of and something that you need to do in order to fulfill some part of you that has an empty space just for that.

See the correlation?

Don’t give up. Hang in there. This is just the hard part. Push through this part and prepare yourself for what you’ve earned on the other side. Like Dolly Parton says – “The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” And a little rain is not gonna kill you.

That rainbow is going to be so worth it.

***

“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”
– Henry Ford

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings, Running. Tags: blog, change, changed, dating, heart, inspiration, inspirational, love, motivation, motivational, passion, photos, race, relationships, runner, running, writing. Leave a comment

Apr. ’13

Unreachable

Someone mentioned this poem the other day and I decided to go back and look at it. I wrote this a long time ago. And I’ll be honest – there has always been something about it that hasn’t exactly sat well with me. You know what I mean? For goodness sakes, I wrote the darn thing. So I should like it, right? I should believe it. But something about it just bothers me. Can’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe because it could be construed as ‘giving up’? Maybe. But sometimes giving up is a requirement, right? It’s necessary. There’s no other choice.

Maybe it just bothers me because there’s such a thin line between ‘giving up’ and ‘moving on.’

I don’t know.

You be the judge. What do you think?

Unreachable

Have you ever tried to climb a tree with no branches?
Oh, it is the most frustrating thing!
You know that reaching the top would be wonderful –
So many awesome possibilities –
So much possible potential –
Such a beautiful view!
But how do you get up there when there are no branches –
No stepping-stones along the way –
No one to help you?
You begin to think . . . maybe this tree isn’t meant to be climbed.
Maybe I’m not ready just yet.
Maybe I should just admire the view from the ground for a while.
After all, who knows?
Maybe there is another tree just around the bend.
It may not be as majestic and beautiful…
But it probably has branches.
Maybe, just maybe
It will even bend down to help me up.
Maybe it’s time to move on.