Don't stop believin' (I'm having a Journey moment)

It's one thing to believe in myself.  I mean, it has taken years to believe I can do pretty much anything. I still battle the voices in my head from time to time.  Understandable considering I spent my entire childhood & young adult years being made to feel "less than" by the people who were supposed to love me.

When I began to believe in myself as a young mom, I wasn't sure where to go with that feeling.  I knew it was time to make some major life changes now that I had other little people depending on me, and got my life together.  I lost weight & regained my health.  Started my own sewing business which was wildly successful for many years.  Once the kids were old enough to attend school, I realized sewing into the wee hours of the night down in my basement was lonely...so I accepted a job outside of the home helping others lose weight.  I became so inspired by those I worked with who went from fat to fit, that I began walking with them.  Before I knew it, I was running. All those things, simply because I started believing in myself.  Now I know I can pretty much do whatever I put my mind to (within reason).

Due to a lifetime of having others not believe in me, it's strange to encounter someone who does.  When I hopped out of my car yesterday evening to meet up with Shelly for a pre-marathon "keep the legs loose" interval run, she greeted me with a gift in hand.  Check it out....

It's a 26.2 shoe lace charm.  My first piece of marathon swag!

Thank you, Shelly.  Thank you so much for the beautiful gift. Thank you for believing in me.  Thank you for training with me.  It will be an honor to run 26.2 miles with you in just a few short days!  It might rain on us.  It might be so blasted hot out we can't stand it.  No matter what, I won't stop believin' in our adventure!  Oh, and I will be wearing my new bling for the race.  If I start to feel low or hit the wall while running, I'll look down & see a visual reminder of my goal.