The day last year I started running just for me, with no one else in mind, I started enjoying it.
That was also about the time I stopped caring what I looked like while running, or how fast I was moving and if other people were impressed with my speed. It was about the time when I started running slowly on purpose, so that I would be better rested to run again the next day, and the next.
And then it became the time when those extra pounds I didn’t need melted away, and I started gaining leaner, stronger muscles and being mindful about focusing my energy around my core throughout the day.
I began craving clean proteins and veggies constantly, and feeling slightly nauseated at the thought of processed food. I started drinking more water and stopped worrying as much about my dress size.
So then I started dressing just for me, feeling truly happy in my clothes and in my skin for the first time since before womanhood; started being proud to be my shape, my color, my texture, and all the little tangible things I’m made of.
Today I ran over 10 miles. That’s 4 miles farther than I’ve run before, and now I’m proud of myself in so many more ways that aren’t physical. I’m proving to myself the solidity of my own strength, the power of my psyche over my fears, and confirming that sneaking suspicion I’ve had for awhile that I can, in fact do anything I set my mind to.
I run because it empowers me to be the best version of Vigi that there can be. What empowers you?
