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Sunday, June 15, 2014

Proud | song*ography ...

PROUD 
by Heather Small


Yesterday I travelled to Southern West Virginia to cheer on marathoners - in particularly, a lady who was a best friend through high school.  Someone who has struggled with her share of demons over the years, but has also been surrounded by great love.  One demon she has embattled for seemingly forever is her weight - at one point getting to over 500 pounds.
She has turned that around and lost a considerable amount
- enough so that she has entered several 5Ks
and yesterday,
her first Half-Marathon.


It was a long, hard day for her, but that can be said about every day when you are struggling with more than just the numbers on a scale. Every.Single.Day you get up and deal with mental, physical, emotional, social, financial issues that might be ignored briefly but never go away.  Issues that you feel have ganged up against you alone
especially when you look around at skinnier, richer, prettier, happier people
and it just isn't fair.
It's exhausting.
But ultimately, we all have our demons - some are just not as obvious as obesity.



The great thing about marathons, or any such race, is that it is the great equalizer.
Yesterday she was just like everyone else: 
fighting to get to that finish line and not give in to the urge to quit.
Where finishing itself is its own reward.
Nothing else matters.
It's just you, the road, and the finish line. 


From first time runners to those who hit their 100th marathon,


yesterday was a proud moment 
and for each a personal journey.

~~
What have you done today to make you feel proud? 
It's never too late to try 
What have you done today to make you feel proud? 
You could be so many people 
If you make that break for freedom
~~

Linking up with Kathy and others over on



10 comments:

  1. Way to go!! These are such great shots filled with pride!

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  2. Wow! This is inspiring and moving. What a wonderful celebration for your friend, after all that weight loss. Her story is encouraging!

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  3. Awesome story! Having run a few myself I can attest that it is hard even when you don't have "issues." Kudos to your friend!

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  4. What an awesome achievement for your friend! WOW, just WOW!

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  5. Very inspiring!! Share those demons...the all-my-life-weight-struggle demons. And they are mean ones! I'm in a very good place right now - for probably the first time ever. And this just brought a HUGE smile to my heart ... always good to remember we aren't alone and victories are possible!

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  6. Yes, it's really nice to get the targets to be very proud, beautiful photos!

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  7. Fantastic photos that should make you proud!

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  8. so much to think about, so much to inspire us!!! we are all climbing a mountain, all of us!! this was a great entry for this weeks song. i hope, so very much, that you friend feels proud!!!

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  9. Wow...this is awe inspiring! What an accomplishment your friend has achieved. PROUD for sure! Thanks for joining in at Song-ography.

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  10. That is amazing!!! What an amazing story and capture. Such an inspiration

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