Stories Matter, Your Story Matters

I shared this story on my Facebook page and felt like it should probably be shared here on my blog. Stories matter, never stop sharing them with others.

A couple weeks ago while I was running I found myself seemingly alone with my thoughts, away from other runners — and well pretty much everyone.

Now, as much as I am a social runner, I do love and need moments of solitude. Being alone with my thoughts in order to process life has been very healing and empowering for me over the years.

However, in this moment I found myself alone with the thoughts of my running journey. I have run over 250 races in the past decade plus, including over 175 half marathons and a handful of ultras and marathons. Yet, here I found myself, struggling through this run. However, not only with my legs, but my mind as well. I don’t need to rehash my injuries and physical struggles of the past three years — it’s well documented.

And, that’s not what was pressing on my mind the most in the moment. It wasn’t even the mental struggle of what it takes in coming back from physical setbacks either. The heaviness I felt I was the weight and worth I felt of my story, my journey.

Nearly 14 years ago after I hit, what felt like rock bottom, I woke up to a new mindset and optimism both physically, mentally and spiritually. I made a promise with my Heavenly Father that if He helped me, I’d share my journey candidly and openly for others to draw inspiration from, because I knew I wasn’t alone in the struggle.

So that’s what I did.

I began sharing my journey mainly through social media and my blog, before getting into podcasting. The inspiration I shared and drew from others helped me along the way as I lost over 180lbs., got immersed in the running community and found peace spiritually and mentally.

I thank my Heavenly Father often for that opportunity He gave me, because I have very dear friends today that I know I wouldn’t have otherwise. I feel this emotion no stronger than when I have to say goodbye to the ones who’ve left too soon.

I share all this because over the past several years, I’ve lost my way. Sure, injuries and surgeries have drawn me away from the sport I love more than I’d like. But, it’s much deeper than that.

Over the past several years I’ve allowed others to label the worth of my story. I put too much trust in their opinion that my story wasn’t that unique or special, because “everyone has a weight loss story.” They even encouraged me to just give it up entirely because of the time I put into it.

I have never pretended to believe that my story was uniquely special. Yes, there are a lot of running and weight loss stories out there. But, I don’t see an oversaturated field of similar stories, I see a sea of voices sharing hope with others who are trying to find their own way.

I have had too many personal experiences to deny the power of one telling their story. Even if a story might not appeal to the masses, if it appeals and inspire one soul — it must be shared.

Yet, here I was a few weeks ago running alone with my thoughts realizing the weight I gave these other people, purported friends, over the worth of my story — and it hurt. I felt an array of emotions, even emotions I thought I had previously processed and released.

Realizing this negative emotional cycle I was entering, I quickly released those emotions so I could focus on the core of what I was realizing — NO ONE can dictate the VALUE of YOUR story other than you and THOSE who accept it. There is value in ALL stories.

This was a very powerful moment for me. A wave of gratitude, forgiveness and resolve hit me in what felt like one emotion. I let go of that pain and resolved to keep that promise I made to my Heavenly Father nearly 14 years ago — to share my story for others.

I don’t share this story for sympathy, I share it as a reminder that we all have voices and stories to share. But, more importantly, we all have empathy to give. But, how can we give empathy if we don’t share our stories?

My hope in sharing this experience is the belief that someone out there needs this reminder as well. Stories matter. Your story matters — your struggle is your struggle and your triumph is your triumph — no matter the arena.

Share your story. It has worth.