Category: Sass

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Adapt or Transform?

Adapt and Settle? Or Erupt and Transform?

Lay down everything that is conforming you to stagnation.

Pick up your inner reasons, your dreams, and your spirit.

And when the “it’s not worth it”s, the “settle-for”s, and the “it’s not possible”s deliver their speech of fear and resignation…

…tell them I sent you. šŸ‘ŠšŸ».

Itā€™s time. Letā€™s make today into something wonderful.


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Joyride to Journey

She was a mix of so many ingredients. The batter she swirled around daily inside her wasnā€™t always pretty, or without messes. It wasnā€™t always without clumps of regret that needed smoothing, nor without constant effort to seek a better end result.

What it was though… was consistent even when she doubted. And when fear choked her of seeing a bright future… she poured her batter anyway.

I donā€™t know about you, but the older I get, the more I realize the essence of my timeline here on earth. I softly remember things that hurt, that drove me to change… but I boldly look toward what I am meant for.

And as for my purpose, once clouded but which is now becoming crystal… running the Boston Marathon, building a side business, and the compassionate drive to help those who are lost, lonely and addicted… canā€™t be accomplished by wishing, and daydreaming.

Sweat and scars, time, and tangible efforts get me there. We are only here for a blink of an eye. Our journey is a tale of our struggles, our whys, our deeper need, and our promise of hope.

It took me 40-plus years to realize the importance of enjoying my journey. Ten years ago, I was 90 pounds overweight, shooting whiskey, and allowing toxic things to erode me from inside out.

I donā€™t have all the answers, I canā€™t explain all the happenstances. But I can say this: ponder what it is thatā€™s stopping you from your potential. Discard it, release it, flush it.

Time waits for no one. Itā€™s time to take a joyride šŸ’›.

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Faith and Timing

Faith and timing. These two words are thrown around plenty. But are we trusting in both to guide us to our greatest moments of fulfillment?

We all want the easy road. The path of least resistance. The quicker result, the fast-track model, now, rush, instant gratification, the “I need it yesterday” mentality.

Everything comes in His timing. My path, my journey has been painfully slowā€¦ with setbacks, rollovers, do-overs and slow motions.

Faith allows me to get up and keep going. Faith pushes me when I think I canā€™tā€¦ when Iā€™m told I wonā€™tā€¦ and renews me with a purpose-filled cup.

All that is happening to me and for me, right this minute, is perfect in His plan, timed with divine purpose.

Donā€™t be dismayed, do not quit, do not settle, do not try to halt the deeper feeling within you that are fighting to be led to greatness.

You are here now, with an aliveness that is magnificent. You have so much to give, and to be present for.

Let faith be your guide. Let trust be your mantra, and let your soul out of the cage.

Today is the day. Onward, Lovesā€¦

#todayistheday #faith #anotherchapterinmybookwritten

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Embarrassing Runner Story

LONG HILARIOUS POSTā€¼ļøā€¼ļø A MUST-READā€¼ļø

Okay, so allow me to be your comic relief on a Sunday Morning. I know most of you expect that my posts are going to be very poignant and filled with valuable information. I have been transparent with you, I have shared with you my story of addiction and obesity.

I have showed you my overweight pictures and strugglesā€¦ but, today Iā€™m going to share probably one of the most embarrassing things that has happened to me to this date as a runner!!! Iā€™m actually still laughing šŸ˜‚.

This morning my running partner and I left my house at 5:20 for our 14-mile run. I had attended a beautiful wedding last night, and they were kind enough to have a special vegan dish made for me. It was extremely hot and spicy but delicious, so I ate it all šŸ˜‚.

This morning I told my running partner that I felt a little off, I had not gone to the bathroom yetā€¦ but whatever, letā€™s just roll with this run and get going.

About 5 miles in my stomach definitely started to rumble and I thought oh my god what am I gonna do? Straight ahead, I see a lime green porta-john and think, “Thank God, he has answered my prayersā€¦”

Now mind you, itā€™s still very early in the morning. I figured I could hop in, tear it up and get out. Perfect, I sayā€¦. who will ever be on these country roads this early!!!!

Two minutes later, I hear a diesel truck pull up– literally what feels like is going to be crashing into the porta potty and I hear “Okay, boysā€¦ let’s git this thing loaded upā€ šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚ LMAO.

I start sweating profusely with panic, (’cause whatā€™s happening in there ainā€™t pretty šŸ¤£šŸ¤£). I have to now yell and say ā€œWAIT, THERES SOMEBODY IN HEREā€¼ļø”

I open the door and a larger bald man looks at me in disbelief. I just politely say “Sorry about this” and take off running šŸ˜‚. Ten minutes later, I see the rollback truck pass me with Old Green strapped to the back! I was doubled over in laughter thinking my god, what if they didnā€™t hear me and I got hauled away to the Land Oā€™ Porta Pottyā€™sā€¦. never to be heard from again.

Things I learned todayā€¦

  1. Never trust a port a pottyā€¦ even if it has a friendly face.
  2. Despite my trauma šŸ˜‚, I was able to wake up and do what I love. Godā€™s beauty is amazing. I am so thankful to have eyes to see it.
  3. I probably never should eat spicy food like that again.
  4. I will most likely be the topic of discussion at the porta-potty headquarters and I love itšŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚.
  5. I couldā€™ve been abducted into the porta-potty missing persons database and my running partner never wouldā€™ve known the difference because he was ahead of meā€¦. saying ā€œI donā€™t know, she was just right behind me.ā€ šŸ˜‚
  6. Andā€¦. I love my new Run to Change Lives Water bottle.

Be safe out there yā€™allā€¦.. SWANSON OUT!!!šŸ–¤

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Transformation Requires Transparency.

Transformation requires transparency. Transparency requires gutting yourself open to reveal what must stay and what must go.

The baggage we allow ourselves to carry is not only heavyā€¦ but very much unnecessary. It took me years of time wasting, self sabotage and unveiling to realize that.

I am not for everyoneā€¦ and Iā€™m okay with that. I am fine with saying ā€œNOā€ as an acceptable, one-word answer. I am no longer bothered by the stigmas of who this world wants me to be.

Most days Iā€™m a hot mess, Iā€™m disorganized at times, and I am often still too hard on myself. But I know what running has taught me about my desire for life.

I know what my sneakers have witnessed in my ability, and what I am capable of.

I know my destiny is made for great things, and I know my soul longs to help others achieve their personal best.

Ground your heart today. Feel the earth. Let your soul speak to you. Be transparent, be good to yourself, and know that when people tell youā€¦ itā€™s not possibleā€¦ “bullshit” is one amazing answer. ā˜€ļø

hat you are loved.

Run With Our Pack!

Run Before You Fly Private Facebook Group with Suzanne Swanson 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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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 youā€™ve made, the love you have given, and that not only is external and internal change possible… but extraordinaryā€¼ļø

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 whatā€™s expected of them.

Show up for yourself. Do whatā€™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… letā€™s go make the happiest one we can. šŸ–¤

Run With Our Pack!

Run Before You Fly Private Facebook GroupĀ 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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Always Buy the Sneakers.

Look what just came home to Mama šŸ¤£šŸ¤£!

In my defense… itā€™s been 12 days, 6 hours and 15 seconds since I bought my last pairšŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚!

Always wear a smile, always hold the door for someone, and ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS buy the sneakers šŸ’™šŸ’›šŸ’™šŸ’›šŸ’™šŸ’›šŸ’™šŸ’›.

HAPPY SUNDAY ā˜€ļø.

Stay in Touch with Suzanne

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Thank you for supporting my writing endeavor at RunBeforeyouFly.com. I’m Suzanne Swanson and I’d love for us to keep in touch!

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Don’t Touch My Laces.

Today is simple. Wake up and do your best. We all need support, we all need encouragement. We need laughter, and appreciation for others. We need help from time to time, we need acceptance and humbleness to be teachable and to grow.

We need a few good friends, we need more sincerity and a lot less posed fakeness.

I have crawled from the depths of hell out of my alcohol addiction. I have lost 90 pounds not by sheer luck but by discipline, and hard days, mixed with both tears of deflated failure and of joy.

I have learned how to negotiate running as my beautiful outlet for this batshit crazy world I live in, for the toxic people and negative people I must deal with, and for the continued benefits of my health and well being.

Donā€™t let anyone tell you how to tie your laces. Only you know where youā€™ve beenā€¦ where you areā€¦ and where you are heading. As for meā€¦ today I slip on my headbandā€¦ sip the rocket fuelā€¦ smileā€¦ and go celebrate that I get to wake up and do what I love.

#rocketfuelinmycup

#tiedyefashion

#donttouchmylaces

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Wave at the Haters.

You have one lifeā€¦ one chanceā€¦ one dream to leave a legacy. How you wake up and act today will set the stage for your life tomorrow.

DoI have regrets? Yes. Do I stumble with my choices sometimes? Absolutely.

DoI know that I will never allow certain people, places, or things to be responsible for the detrimental navigation of my own happiness?

You bet your @ss I do.

Today is my day and yoursā€¦!!

Donā€™t politely tell this world who you are. SHOW THEM.

I promise you, someone is watching. We have a choice, we have a say, and we determine who we will become.

Amen and amen!

#beyourownmayday

#waveatthemhaters #smileatastranger

Stay in Touch with Suzanne

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Thank you for supporting my writing endeavor at RunBeforeyouFly.com. I’m Suzanne Swanson and I’d love for us to keep in touch!

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Why Not Wednesday

WHY NOT WEDNESDAYā€¼ļøā€¼ļø

Why not wake up today and decide today is the day you change your life?

Why not wake up today and decide today is the day you cut the excuses?

Why not wake up today and decide you are going put to rest doubt and fear?

Why not wake up today and forget the scale, forget the harsh screams of others and just be wonderfully you?

Why not wake up today and smile and wave at all them haters and naysayers?

Today is yours. The work is hard, and the road may be long, but the journey… every paved and unpaved mile, will teach you something valuable. Set out to find gratitude in each mile.

Have acceptance in each setback, and have hope for every victory yet to come. Someone is watching you. Show them kindness, teach them love, and let them in on your successes.

Bitterness need not apply. Now letā€™s go smash some pavementā€¦ after all, it is WEDNESDAYā€¼ļø WHY NOT?