Many, many years ago, in my former life as a high school teacher, I attended a conference in the San Francisco Bay area. I stayed at a hotel near the airport, one that bordered the bay and, fortuitously, a bike trail. One day when I had some time on my hands, I went for a walk on the bike trail. Not long after I started, a woman jogged past me. As she did, she called out, "You go, girl!" I smiled at the encouragement.
Flash forward to earlier this week. It was one of those mornings when the hills felt steeper and the house felt farther away than usual. Every step was a struggle. I thought about cutting the walk short. Then I heard that woman's voice again.
"You go, girl."
So I did. I replayed that memory over and over. Those three words became my mantra.
"You go, girl."
"You go, girl."
"You go, girl."
They gave me what I needed to finish my walk--all of it. And when I went out for my walk again the next morning, the hills had returned to their normal incline and my house was its same old distance away.
I don't know who that stranger was all those years ago. Whoever you are, thank you. Your words have made all the difference.
Flash forward to earlier this week. It was one of those mornings when the hills felt steeper and the house felt farther away than usual. Every step was a struggle. I thought about cutting the walk short. Then I heard that woman's voice again.
"You go, girl."
So I did. I replayed that memory over and over. Those three words became my mantra.
"You go, girl."
"You go, girl."
"You go, girl."
They gave me what I needed to finish my walk--all of it. And when I went out for my walk again the next morning, the hills had returned to their normal incline and my house was its same old distance away.
I don't know who that stranger was all those years ago. Whoever you are, thank you. Your words have made all the difference.