A promise is a promise, right? Even if it is a broken promise, right? I would still like to think so! You see, I made this promise to myself long, long ago when I saw the pain, agony, thirst and lack of sleep that plagues my Mom, Dad and my best pal. You know what I'm talking about! RUNNING! I vowed as a young child that I would NEVER EVER EVER in all my years on this earth take up running! To me there was nothing more horrible than forcing yourself to run mile after mile. This year I am embarrassed to admit that this terrible plague has become one that I too, am fighting. Yes. It's true. I have taken up running! I am not fast and I do not run far. But I have learned a few things through this experience I once called dreaded. The biggest one is not even related to running itself, but to an experience that came with running.
About a month ago, I was running on the tredmill just minding my own business when my mom came down stairs to get something. She stood in the doorway of the room and watched me run. As you can imagine this made me very self-conscious. "What?" I demanded. "You have good form." She said "You run like your Dad." This was such a compliment! My dad has great running form and if someone tells me I run like him, hey! I'll take it! I was pleased to tell my dad that I ran like him but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that my dad has given me so much more than his running stance.
Daddy, I want to thank you for everything you've given me and everything you've taught me. People often tell me that I am just like you and sometimes I roll my eyes and think "No, I'm not!" But it really is so wonderful to hear that. You taught me how to be a leader, how to love without judgement, how laugh, how to work and many many more things! I know that I am not perfect, but I know that if I can just keep wearing your running shoes that everything will be alright.
I love you Daddy!
Forever your little girl, wanting to be, In Your Running Shoes.
