I ran a ran a 5K in November. My most favorite part of the entire race, really the entire day was the very end of the race. As the finishers stood at the finish line and cheered one another through. It wasn't a timed event, there weren't places or metals. It was people (men and women) who wanted to do something healthy to kick off their Thanksgiving Day.
It was so encouraging, inspiring and fun to run through the finish line to see people smiling and clapping, to hear "good job", "way to go", "you did it". Didn't matter if you were fifth or last, people were there and they were excited you were too no matter when you crossed over. To stand at the line and cheer was almost as much of a high as the run itself. The men and women who pushed themselves beyond limits, the men and women who tried and kept trying not giving up. The faces of determination and pride.
My legs weren't the only thing racing that day. My heart was racing too. So happy to have participated in the run, so proud to be there supporting and encouraging others. THAT'S a runners high!
Today as I think about the women who have come into my life just since last fall ~ women I've met at races, women I've linked with via Instarunners, the other bloggers ~ these women have no idea how much they are INSPIRING ME! ENCOURAGING ME! MOTIVATING ME! and SUPPORTING ME through their own works and words. Today I'm going to be very intentional in my THANK YOU to them ~ as I say it here first.
THANK YOU to the women in my life who accept me flaws and all, who inspire me, who encourage me and who motivate me as they walk the walk of women who are here to BUILD ONE ANOTHER UP. These women are women who have made a choice to first love themselves, accept themselves and understand there is always room for improvement in themselves. As they love themselves, that love pours out to others. THANK YOU!
So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11