Remember when you were younger and it snowed? Every kid was outside playing in the snow. You'd get bundled up and feel like you couldn't move because of all the layers. You'd make snow angels, go sledding, and have a snowball fight. You gather a little bit of snow and pack it tightly together. Buuttt every so often, you needed more. A BIG snowball. To make the ultimate snowball, you place the baby snowball on the ground and get rolling. Soon you have the biggest snowball ever.
That snowball didn't just happen. You created the foundation and added momentum. You kept going until you stopped to admire this amazing thing you just created.
This is what happened to me after I started walking. I was so down and vulnerable that I literally, and figuratively, wanted to run. I wanted to run from everything and everyone. So I did. I started running from one light pole to another. Then I'd walk. In one 30-minute walk, I probably only run a handful of times.
I wasn't fast. My form was probably awful. I was breathing heavily. I didn't have the "right" clothes for running. And my shoes were cheap Pumas.
*Sidebar -> I bought these Pumas on clearance from the Puma website. I knew nothing about how important running shoes are. I just knew I was happy with my $40 cheapies. When they finally arrived, I was just so freaking happy.
You know what, though? I was proud. I was happy to move. I didn't care about my clothes or shoes. I was so proud of myself but, more importantly, I felt better mentally. The runner's high had caught up to me (even if I didn't consider myself a runner back then).
Eventually, it turned from one light pole to one block to two blocks to a mile. I was doing it! My baby snowball was gaining momentum. I kept it rolling and I wasn't stopping to admire it just yet.
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