-

-

Friday, November 10, 2017

Neighbor // Client // Friend

These flowers arrived on my doorstep this morning while I was busy vacuuming and folding laundry. They were from a client that I crossed paths with one year ago.  One year ago this week. 



She had been my neighbor for several years. But we only crossed paths when out walking with our dogs or chasing kids around the neighborhood. When I opened up my studio last fall she reached out to me to start running and walking together. 

She’s a mother of four and homeschools her kids and early mornings worked best for her.  We would typically run together once a week at 5:30 am and this continued as the months passed by. We started with one minute intervals and continued on that path throughout much of the winter.  Occasionally we would add in longer periods of running at the end of her workout.

She wasn’t interested in running outdoors or having anyone at the gym see her running (Can anyone relate?). But, once spring hit, I encouraged her that she should be proud of what she was doing – so we ventured outside.  We ran around our neighborhood and soon I was showing her our city in a different way – on foot at various parks and trails. I could tell that something was changing her. She wasn’t dreading her workouts or asking for breaks. She was craving the workout – and the time for herself.  It wasn’t so much of a chore anymore. I would see her out running when I was out with my family and it made me so happy.  Others in the neighborhood noticed her lifestyle change, too.

During the time we got to know each other, she went through a difficult international adoption process. This involved her husband traveling for several weeks throughout the year. When early mornings didn’t work, we would run together with our toddlers in the strollers. She still made herself a priority.


During the adoption process, she also learned that she would need to have surgery. We met immediately before surgery and immediately after she was given the ok to return to exercise. She continued to keep her routine throughout all of this.

After these two situations were finalized and family routine was setting in, I saw another breakthrough. She was pushing herself longer distances. Going to the gym and running on her own. She was really becoming proud of what SHE was doing. And she craved more. 

She asked me to schedule a 10K together on the week of our one year anniversary – of our first running date. Since I was sidelined with injury, we met at the gym at 5:15 am this morning and she ran alongside me while I walked.  We outlasted everyone at the gym.  She did that.  The treadmill stopped because she hit the time limit and she had to switch machines.  She did that. I saw another breakthrough this morning.  Tears welling up around mile 5.5 and then more emotions as she approached mile 6. She realized that she could do that.  She did that.  Doubt was gone. And she is capable of even more.  Because she chose to make herself a priority – and feel good about herself again.

I’m so happy that this neighbor became a client and then a close friend. Over the past year we have run together about sixty times. That’s a lot of miles and catching up and sharing.

When you think you don’t have enough time. Don’t have the energy. Don’t have the support. Think again.  It’s there – you just need to find it and commit. You have it! Look around. Support is all around you.  It could be right next door. But you won’t know if you don’t look.

13 comments:

  1. Stop Hunger Cravings in Their Tracks & Help You Shed One Pound of FAT every 72 hours?!

    Flush Away 1/3 POUNDS of fat everyday by drinking this DELICIOUS RED TEA.

    CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/2Jr8jnd

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thoughtful comment... People are having success lossing belly fat with this... http://bit.ly/2TR6XEn

    ReplyDelete
  3. DISCOVER HOW I HELPED MY “CRIPPLED” WIFESHED 23 POUNDSOF UNWANTED FAT AND COMPLETELY FLATTEN HER BELLY INONLY 21 DAYS*(WITHOUT Starving Herself And WITHOUT Doing Any Exercise More Strenuous Than Walking To The Fridge!) with this... http://bit.ly/2GpxaqF

    ReplyDelete
  4. Shed the kilos and get inspired. Millions of people loss weight real quick. Amazing product. http://bit.ly/2UPxrGR

    ReplyDelete
  5. I like it! Check this out https://bit.ly/2wBYhYF This product help your journey to weight loss.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I like it! Check this out https://bit.ly/2wBYhYF This product help your journey to weight loss.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I like it! Check this out https://bit.ly/2wBYhYF This product help your journey to weight loss.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nice Article. I've tried your ways and I make another steps by using this link http://bit.ly/2K04zY5 it helps alot to losing my weight.

    ReplyDelete
  9. great article its very helpful to weight loss.
    pleas click this link try our products for more help you http://bit.ly/2SRD7Qx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Excellent Blogs...

    more people are having success losing weight with this diet http://rebrand.ly/WeightLossFast21

    ReplyDelete
  11. Is literally the BEST weight loss blog. I read it everyday. I'm also grateful i found, it help https://bit.ly/3oATJLi me a lot to lose weight. Hope this method to help others to.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great article for educating people, we can only take the steps necessary to change our own, sure lose fat and cut down on carbs and sugar when you think about it, it does make sense. I’m also so grateful I found https://bit.ly/3aT7ikv

    ReplyDelete
  13. “Running Diva Mom is literally the BEST weight loss community anywhere, I read it everyday, and I’m also so grateful I found https://bit.ly/3nGqZ46, it help me not only lose weight but keep it off, hope it helps some others!”

    ReplyDelete