Category: Writing Therapy

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Victory.

Victories come in all ways that are unique to our goals and our personal achievements. It doesn’t always have to be about the time on the watch, the number on a scale, or what page 37 of the magazine says it is…

This morning I watched the most incredible sunrise I almost have ever witnessed. The sky was lavender, mixed with reds, and oranges, and a stillness that is hard to put into words… to be alive, out of bed, for my eyes to see that is a victory.

I struggle with running in heat and humidity. This morning I ran up the same hills that often defeat me, with ease and a lightness I haven’t felt in a long time. That’s a victory.

Maybe getting out of bed today for you is a victory. Maybe smoking one less cigarette, drinking one less drink, eating one less cookie, those are all victories.

Speaking the truth in love is a victory. Being a little kinder… not tolerating other people’s crap… all victories. Saying yes to yourself and no to societal stigmas. VICTORY.

It doesn’t matter how small or immeasurable you think your progress is. Feel the joy of it all. Your victories are your guide. Use them… thank them, and be glad in them. They are all part of your story.

Go find a victory today. Amen. 🖤

#whataview #runningmotivation #imaluckygirl

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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What If?

WHAT IF WEDNESDAY‼️

So today is Wednesday. Some of us will wake up with same mindset that has stolen our joy for years. We will complain. We will start our day with the weight of all the stress we will face today. We will let fear cripple us.

We will scroll through social media… compare ourselves to others, wish we were somewhere different, or think of ways that we could mirror someone else’s life.

I am guilty of it, too. I have had too many Wednesdays where I start my day feeling low, tired, and with a feeling of complete failure.

What if today… we drop all our excuses? What if today is the day you decide to wake up happy on purpose?

What if today is the day you stop letting fear keep you from trying new things and becoming great?

What if today we step out of our comfort zones and take a step toward greatness?

What if today we say yes to treating our bodies how they should be treated?

We make life hard sometimes. We allow others and ourselves to rob the self-worth we all deserve. Start today… and just begin.

What if today is the day we change our life?

Together we can. Amen. ❤️

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Shaken or Grounded?

Are you shaken, or grounded?

Arising to face the day can meet us each with a choice. Do we allow things to shake us upside down and apart? Or can we root deeply into the earth and ground ourselves?

I know for me… ridiculous thoughts, unhealthy patterns, and toxic people will continue to try to seep through my protective barriers in hopes of initiating unsteadiness and crumbling my solid footing.

Stumbling a bit is okay. Actually, it’s quite necessary in the grounding process. We are not meant to do it right all the time. We are not meant to be perfect.

We are meant to receive daily grace, find acceptance in the beautifully broken, seek only those who better us. This is how we land at the place where we will root our foot and ground ourselves in what we believe in and fight for.

If you move about awkwardly today… it’s okay.
If you are unsure and stumble a bit… it’s okay.
If you aren’t sure why you’re here or where you’re going… it’s okay.
But when you feel like the moment is right… ground down… plant your feet… release all that is not serving you.

Allow all that has shaken you to dissolve… and find the steadiness you deserve.

So… shaken or grounded❓ You choose… 👈🏻

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A Work in Progress

Hi! It’s Suzanne from Run Before You Fly. I wanted to thank all new subscribers for signing up for my list!

I hope to deliver inspiration, hope and a place to recharge in body, mind and spirit.

Please be patient with us as we fine-tune everything on the website. Over the next few days, I’ll be settling into my new home online. There will be short-term to-do lists to tackle, and long-term goals for serving my community in the best way that I can.

We’re working on setting things up so that I can stay in touch with you, and offer support and encouragement.

Are you on my email list?

I may ask you to re-susbscribe as we configure the technology to manage an email list properly.

I hope you don’t mind, everything here will be much like life… a work in progress, with small victories, occasional setbacks, and celebratory stop points along the way. 🙂

It’s my long-term vision to write and publish a book to share with you. Perhaps a collection of running stories, personal essays, precious glimpses into my world and life.

Some snippets, snapshots and messages of hope, faith and courage… with an emphasis on how perspective, positivity, purpose and perseverance make all the difference.

The Run Before You Fly Blog simmered on the back burner of my cluttered and sometimes chaotic mind for some time. Then, like a bolt out of the blue, took shape quite suddenly. I’m thrilled to have you on board for my writing journey!  

A Question for You:

I’d like to ask you, what are your hopes for following along with me? As a runner, a person who had to look my own demons dead in the eye before overcoming addiction and finally taking steps toward becoming my healthiest self, I know that I’m not alone. 

What was it that brought you here, and how can I offer you support?

Now is a great time for us to set intentions with the birth of this new blog — a new space to share, learn, and grow together. Feel free to write in via the contact page on this blog.

Ask Suzanne! Advice Column for Everyone.

I may offer an anonymous advice column. Please do write in at those times when you’re feeling like you need some guidance. As always, your privacy is respected and protected. 

I’ve posted a special welcome and launch announcement in case you missed it 🙂

Thank you so much for being a part of my journey!

Suzanne at Run Before You Fly

PS: If you know someone who can use encouragement around setting health and life goals, share this blog with them. 

Tell a friend about Run Before You Fly!

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It’s Finally Here 💛💛💛

It began as a tiny piece of ripped notebook paper and a pen. My vision of finding the perfect name, finding a home for all the jumbled words of my head and heart to live is finally here.

Welcome to My Blog: Run Before You Fly

This website is dedicated to all those who hurt, who dream, who wish to come alive, who are searching for their purpose. It’s a place to visit for comfort, to seek hope, and know that my words for you are not just to fill empty space on a blank page.

These words were, are, and will continue to be written through every door I have walked out of in my past, walked through during the height of my healing and transformation, and for those places I have yet to visit in arriving fully to myself and fulfilling even my wildest dreams.

To everyone who has supported me, encouraged me, and who has waited patiently for this place where my words can settle… a thank you doesn’t seem to cover my deepest appreciation for you. And a special thank you to Dina Gio who was a tremendous gift in making this possible.

May my purpose be to continue to inspire others. May my transparency reveal what is possible, and may you know that no matter what life gives you, or takes from you… you are capable, and so much stronger than you think.

In life, we all must “Run Before We Fly.”

To reach the elevation of our truest being, we must set out and just start… just begin… one step at time.

May we all soar… today, tomorrow, and forever.


#moretocomein2022 #runbeforeyoufly #withapensheflies

Stay in Touch with Suzanne

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

Receive updates via email when you sign up here.

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Runner’s Mantra

When we stay in tune with our inner being, we recharge our power. Yoga and meditation are important for me as a runner to seek gratitude in my capabilities.

As a human being, these practices allow me to reset my focus. They set me back into the present moment and sketch a blueprint for my well-being and success.

I can easily get sucked back into conflicting thoughts. I can easily get drawn into a vortex of shit that promises success and elation but only delivers despair and destruction.

Today, seek what is good. Demand nothing but that which will fill you with happiness and promise.

Leave toxic crap where it belongs… and rise above the people and things you set you back. This leg of my journey always brings challenge… but this woman will always bring grit, and self-will.

Rise up today from wherever you are. Re-set. Re center. Re-focus, and then hold yourself.

Tell yourself you’re listening… you are trying… and that you are loved.

Join our safe space where we will share, inspire, love, and grow!

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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The Choice is Yours.

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.

#beyourownmayday #nevernevernevergiveup #runningismylife

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Revolution.

To achieve greatness we must take every sour thing that has tried to dim our light and revolt.

We must take every lie we were taught to believe and turn it into truth.

We must relentlessly and repetitively find our purpose and make it known why we were destined to be granted a spin on this earth.

Being overweight is hard. Being unhealthy is hard. Being angry, defeated, and without joy is hard.

Staying sober can be hard, staying motivated is hard. Discipline is hard. The choice is ours… we choose our hard.

Effort counts… consistency counts… our will counts. Wake up and cut the anvils. Be your own mayday and let’s show this world… that we are not just talkers … 

We are World Changers.

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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From the Ground Up.

Today is one of those days where life just feels right. Fall is in the air, the sounds of my feet stomping that pavement, along with rustling leaves, and the wind making its own music.

I thought about how lucky I have been. The friends who message me on the daily and cheer on my story of life.

I thought about how life has changed sadly and drastically with Covid and political strife. How this world and people are indifferent… yet each day we can still try to do better.

For all who made me smile and who made me cry… the lesson is in you.

For all who handed me a rope to grab and for those who cut it… the lesson is in you.

For all who continue to inspire me and for those who try to inflict toxicity… the lesson is in you.

For you see when she is built from the ground up, using only shattered remains of toughness, strength, courage, and resilience… nothing but absolutely nothing can stop her from sharing her dreams, gliding with integrity, and feeding this world some soul food.

Seek to conquer, seek to live wonderfully, and seek but nothing else that brings you home.

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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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 slow… with setbacks, rollovers, do-overs and slow motions.

Faith allows me to get up and keep going. Faith pushes me when I think I can’t… when I’m told I won’t… 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.

Don’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, Loves…

#todayistheday #faith #anotherchapterinmybookwritten