When I first laced up my shoes to get back into running, it wasn’t just about the mile.

It wasn’t about setting records or chasing some perfect version of myself.

It was about movement.

It was about momentum.

It was about not giving up, even when everything inside me screamed to stop.

I began this journey focused on a simple goal:
Run one mile. Every day if possible.

My first mile: 12 minutes and 53 seconds.
Not fast. Not fancy. But it was a start.

From there, every run became a story.

• Some days I soared (like when I crushed an 11:47 and felt like a superhero).
• Some days I fought pain so sharp it made me want to crumble.
• Some days I could barely breathe, barely move, barely believe.

But every day, I showed up.

Even when my ankles and shins screamed.
Even when the shooting pain made me question if I should quit.
Even when rest days felt like failure instead of strategy.

The Middle: Learning to Listen, Learning to Heal

There came a point—around the third or fourth brutal run—where I had to face the truth:

Pushing through isn’t always strength.
Sometimes, strength is in the pause.

I took rest days.
I iced my shins.
I massaged my legs.
I humbled myself and bought new running shoes (because sis, your equipment matters!).

And when I finally returned to the pavement after four full days of recovery, I didn’t just run—I flew.

My mile that day: 11 minutes and 7 seconds.

My legs held me.

My spirit lifted me.

And even though my breathing still struggled, my faith didn’t.

The Reality: It’s Not Just the Running

Here’s the part most people don’t see:

It wasn’t just the physical pain I was pushing through these last few weeks.

It was mental battles too.
It was fear.
Doubt.
Economic uncertainty.
Career uncertainty.
A shifting sense of identity.

While I was training my legs to endure the run, I was also training my heart and mind to endure life.

• Applying to jobs day after day.
• Facing rejection after rejection in a brutal economy.
• Watching hiring freezes wipe out opportunities I was hopeful for.
• Wrestling with guilt that I wasn’t contributing “enough” financially, even as my husband carried so much weight with love and strength.
• Feeling the heartbreak of telling my youngest daughter, “Mommy’s going back to work soon”—and hearing her call it “the worst day of her life.”

No motivational quote prepares you for moments like that.

The Lesson: Resilience Is Ugly and Beautiful

Resilience isn’t always glamorous.
It’s often messy, painful, exhausting, and lonely.

But resilience is built when you refuse to stop moving.

When you pivot.
When you rest.
When you cry and pray and ice your legs and still whisper, “I’ll try again tomorrow.”

Running showed me a reflection of what I’ve been living off the track:

• You can be scared and still move forward.
• You can be exhausted and still move forward.
• You can fall out of rhythm, lose momentum, feel defeated—and still rise again.

Today: Still Running, Still Believing

Today, I’m still running.
I’m still applying.
I’m still believing.
I’m still mothering.
I’m still trusting God to make a way when I can’t see it clearly yet.

And just like those brutal miles where my body begged me to quit at .73—

I remind myself that the finish line is closer than it feels.

That God is carrying me through every hard breath, every painful step.

Final Reflection: Cheers to Not Giving Up

So here’s my toast:

Cheers to not giving up.
Cheers to pivoting when life demands it.
Cheers to resting when your body and spirit need it.
Cheers to every shaky mile and every shaky prayer.

Because the truth is—
We don’t have a choice but to keep moving forward.
But we do have a choice to move forward with grace, courage, and faith still intact.

And if you’re reading this, wherever you are in your journey—
Just know you’re not alone.
You are still in the fight.
And you are still so worthy of the life you’re dreaming of.

Unapologetically, Dorothy! 💕

I’d love to hear your story, too. Have you ever had a moment where you almost gave up but decided to keep pushing through?

Share your journey with me in the comments — let’s inspire each other to keep moving forward.

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