Category: Resilience

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Run and Be Happy!

For me to become a better athlete, and keep churning at the handle of my personal and professional goals, to ensure my sobriety, and integrity… I need to always meditate to put life in its proper position.

Conflicting thoughts on nutrition, running gear, beauty products, financial plans, life strategies can cause massive chaos to our thoughts if we allow it.

People will always show up on your doorstep of life to inflict their opinions or “two cents” of *their* being into *yours.* Do not allow such individuals to interfere with the trajectory of your journey.

We face adversity together. We can get through uncertainties by the hands and bodies of our personal experiences, and by our very own truths we have allowed others to view.

When the road is bumpy, stay on it.

When you feel like you can’t run, walk, or jog another inch… go three inches. When you see the walls crumbling… believe that when that wall falls, it leaves a new space for unimaginable growth you never thought possible.

Today I am grateful what each of you bring to the table. Your stories, your jokes, your humility, your honesty, your progresses, your setbacks.

All teach us that we are listening…and we can overcome. We all motivate differently. We think differently, we run differently… we set different goals, and that is okay.

Today’s meditation brought up some superior points. Just do your best… don’t be a shitty human being… and never stop being who you are. 🖤

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Show Up for Yourself.

I hope today that you are celebrating you. I hope today you will come to understand that no matter how little you think you have come in your journey so far, it does not even remotely define you.

I hope today the reflection you see is an image of a person trying. I hope you can see the sacrifices you’ve made, the love you have given, and that not only is external and internal change possible… but extraordinary‼️

I hope you can one day understand that all that you have been through has shaped and prepared you for exactly where you are today.

I hope you know that our sneakers tell a tale of who we are. They are scuffed and worn, broken in, and twisted, but they are also comfortable and gentle, they are molded and perfect. They have felt every pounce of the pavement, and trudge on the trail… yet day after day they show up for us and do exactly what’s expected of them.

Show up for yourself. Do what’s expected. Dream the crazy dreams. Set goals… make plans… be the change that everyone tells you you’re crazy for believing in.

Someone is struggling, yearning, seeing, and hoping. Show them they can… tell them they will. Exhale ambition and spread that shit like wildfire. Life is waiting… let’s go make the happiest one we can. 🖤

Run With Our Pack!

Run Before You Fly Private Facebook Group is open to all who wish to continue to share their experiences, love of running, and battles of life, with each other. Together we are better.

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Showing Up Uninvited.

My past is a place where I visit from time to time, but I don’t stay long anymore. I don’t ask for an invitation to visit. I show up uninvited to remind it of just a few things.

My past told me I couldn’t become an athlete, because I was lazy… undetermined and unfocused. I ring the doorbell of my past, and when it opens the door… it now sees the face of grit, hard work, discipline, and eyes that see long into my dreams and goals.

My past told me I couldn’t overcome the bottle. That Jameson and Vodka would destroy me long before a pair of running shoes could.

I ring the doorbell and when my past answers, I say remember me? Now it sees the girl who hasn’t touched a drink in 5 years. Who put down the bottle to pick up her self-worth, and found self-love again.

My past told me I couldn’t make a difference: “You’ll never be an example, or a leader. You’ll never succeed.”

I ring the doorbell and when it opens the door… my past sees all of you. It sees your kind words and support. It sees us sharing all our achievements together.

My past asks me if I would like to sit and stay awhile… maybe get reacquainted. I politely decline. As I leave, I turn around and say:

“You thought you would break me. You thought you could keep me prisoner, hold me in the dark, never to be rescued.”

As I shut the door, the beautiful light shining down upon me pierces that dark place. The past quietly closes the door with nothing left to say.

Find your willingness to be better. Do not let people, places or things hold your happiness… they will drop it every time. Find your light and burn that bitch so bright, you light up the world 🌎✨⭐️.

Now let’s get this run done ✌️.

Follow along as Suzanne Swanson takes us through her transformation from addiction to athlete. Find support and healing in your own life! We’re sending Suzanne’s blog updates via email along with a daily dose of motivation. Don’t miss the next post… delivered straight to your inbox.

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Never Give Up.

Every day we make a choice. Today I choose to NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP 🖤.

The work is hard and tiring, but the road is paved with self-satisfaction, and a joy that no one person can ever take from me.

Find what you love and do it… do it with fire in your eyes. Do it with a smile… do it happy or sad… alone or afraid.

Just know that every day you are writing your legacy. How will you leave your mark on this world?

How will they remember you?

Someone is watching you. Be kind… be bold… but be undoubtedly an example of good.

Now let’s get this done 🖤.

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Releasing What Does Not Serve

Very recently I have received a lot of private messages. People want to know: how do I train? What is my diet? And where the heck do I get the drive to want to help so many people?

Although the physical grit is an absolute must, as is nutrition… training my mind is the MOST important thing I do. When our head is not in the game, the rest fall like dominos.

Do I stumble? Yes. Do I get off track? Yes. Am I a quitter? Hell no! Journaling is a huge part of my running success. It’s part of who I am.

Today Imma keep it real and share with you a letter I wrote to myself this morning as I’m putting it in the mental instead of physical work.

Dear Suzanne…

Today I release everything and everybody that no longer serves your quest for peace and health. I am sorry for the way I often treat you, and the way I let others treat you. I am so sorry that I allowed you to tolerate selfish people whose intentions were clearly not the best for you.

Today I promise to do my best to no longer look at you in the mirror and see flaws, or think you are overweight or imperfect, or not pretty enough, or not good enough.

Today I will love you for who you are: a loving wife, a kick-ass mom, a loyal friend, and one hell of an athlete.

Today WE need to do better at feeding your body and soul with what it needs… THE GOOD STUFF. By that I mean with love and plants, fruits, more veggies, and with good people with good vibes… who have only the BEST intentions for you.

Today I will try better to release you from the dizzying merry go round of societal crap. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel, Suzanne… today you just need to re-up your contract with yourself. Today I reclaim it!!

Love,

Your BEST Self

Follow along as Suzanne Swanson takes us through her transformation from addiction to athlete. Find support and healing in your own life! We’re sending Suzanne’s blog updates via email along with a daily dose of motivation. Don’t miss the next post… delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign up to hear from Suzanne via email here.

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To Anyone Struggling.

I’m going to say a little something today to anyone struggling.

On the left was a girl whose smile was there because someone said “Say cheese!”

The core of me was alone… in an upheaval of a mess made by wrong choices… fueled by addiction, doubt, and shame.

I rode my high horse as a means of trying to fit in. I let crappy people influence my choices. I was robbing myself of a life of freedom, goodness, and wellness.

The woman on the right smiles because she crushed her devils… weathered the storms, and found peace within the brokenness.

Today life is tough. We scroll through social media. We see fitness models talk about their chiseled success, we see fad diet after diet, shake after shake, supplement after supplement. How can we not feel conflicted?

Here’s the deal: find what works for you and seek the pure joy in it. You want to eat meat? Eat meat. You want to be vegan? Be vegan. You want to cartwheel on the street between each mile.? Do it!!!! Find what you love and let it be a neverending well of happiness.

This world has had enough people spit venom about individual choices.

Today… all I’m asking is you wake up and choose you. Give thanks for who you were, give praise for who you are, and lay down some gratitude for who you will continue to become.

Find what works for you… price tag it and own it. Show the world… be the change.

I promise you someone is watching… let’s give ’em something to talk about ✌️.

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Grit is Gold.

My life has certainly been a journey full of crazy moments, unpredictable seasons, challenge, adversity, and hope.

There are many things I have done wrong, choices I would have made differently… but my heart still swells at a random act of kindness.

Holding the door for a stranger, someone telling you your smile is priceless, a cup of coffee made perfect, sneakers and sunshine.

These prove to me everyday that in this crazy world gone mad… good still remains.

People make me laugh and sometimes scream, but helping them realize their worth, and reach their goals is my true purpose and passion.

Do not settle for brief moments, or average seasons of life. Know your worth… price tag that bi&c@ and own it.

Envision lays the foundation… but grit gets you there. Happy Friday, People!