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.
This morning’s run was a hot, humid one here in New Jersey.
Often times I get up and go without much thought on where I will run or how far I will go. I tie my laces, walk out my door and immediately I am on my familiar county roads.
Some days I see just wildlife, some days many town locals wave as they pass me in their cars. Today was just the hum of the local farmer’s tractor off in the distance, the sounds of the birds, and my heavy breathing trying to fight the humidity.
As I passed the barn with that beautiful flag hung… I am quickly reminded of just how lucky and blessed I am.
I get to wake up and do what I love, on these back farm town roads that I love but not without what that flag represents… not without those men and women who bravely fought so I could be just this lucky.
This is my home… these are my roads… and today I am just a happy girl.
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.
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 let’s go smash some pavement… after all, it is WEDNESDAY‼️ WHY NOT?
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 ✌️.
As I reached for my mug today and read the word courage, I was quickly reminded of what this means to me.
Every moment in life is a chance to pin courage on ourselves.
We continue to be tested… and when you are, say no and tolerate nothing less than what brings you peace and happiness.
We continue to be sculpted… and when you are, let the clay take the form of nothing less than what brings you awareness and stability.
We continue to be confronted by all the people, places, and things that leech upon us to suck the life out of us… and when you are, tolerate nothing less than what offers you good character and integrity.
Life will always test us. When you are reminded of this, remember that you are not required to please, settle, tolerate, accept, nor deposit anything that does match your goals, wellness, priorities, dreams, and blueprint.
Take your courage… pin it, share it, send it, save it, be it, keep it… but never lose sight of how you got it.
How easy is it to devalue ourselves? Sometimes I must remind myself just how good I am doing in this moment. It’s so easy to devalue even the smallest of accomplishments. Do you occasionally allow yourself to feel less than?
Have you let the people, places and things that lowered your frequency for joyful living to infiltrate through tiny cracks of self-doubt?
Ask yourself today… did you try your best? Are you making small consistent changes for the betterment of your mind and health?
Do I lose myself from time to time? Absolutely.
Do I know that despite my inner demons trying to divert me to a place of pain and uneasiness… my inner warrior will steady my hand and keep me on the road to peace, health and gratitude? You bet do!
Today, I showed up for me.
Love yourself when no one is watching. Love yourself when you think you can’t take anymore… love yourself when you’re laughing through wonderful moments or crying through the trials.
Show up for you… because we are all working to become a better version of ourselves.
The best is yet to come… for me and for you.
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So many of us stay on a path lit with false promise, poisonous venom, and a plan to keep us on a road to destroying what we were all born to have… peace and stillness.
I will continue to share my story and be a vessel carrying Hope. We do not have to stay stuck. We choose it.
We do not have to stay lost. We choose it.
We do not have to let toxic people, places or things dictate who we are… we allow them to.
Release the voices that are trying to crush your spirit. Let go of what whatever is telling you victory is not possible.
Be kind today. Be patient with yourself. Drink some water. Peer out into the unknown… and find your way home.
“I once was lost… but now I’m found.”
Get up and get after it today. Draw the shades back, let the light in… and let’s say yes to life today!!
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