It’s been almost one year since I ran my first (and possibly) only marathon. It’s been wild these last few months, thinking back to my twice-weekly long runs and taking up big spaces on my calendar. Looking back to setting, training, and reaching the goal of running 26.2 miles, I realize that I was pretty bashful in talking about it.

I left my first meeting with the running club in tears because I was just so overwhelmed by the idea of it all. I immediately looked at my calendar and realized how much I was asking of myself and the number of things I was going to miss out on in order to really train and take it seriously. I also told zero of my extended family about my plans to run a marathon until at least 6 weeks into my training.

I think I was just so darn nervous to call my shot that I let the overwhelm and ‘oh my goodness, what have I done?!?!’, completely take over.

Looking back, I wish I would have said it out loud sooner and spent more time in the vulnerability of saying it and then proving to myself that I was actually doing it.

I remember distinctly after a 20-mile race a few weeks before the marathon how in shock I was to have completed that distance of mileage. For at least 2-3 days afterward, I kept saying, I can’t believe I just ran 20 miles, over and over again.

Despite all the training and preparation, I was underselling the work that I was actually putting in to complete this goal.

And I think we all do this in different sorts of ways. We keep our big goals tucked inside. We fail to call our shot for fear of missing it.  And we avoid the vulnerability of saying some really important stuff out loud.

So in an attempt to live my life a bit more vulnerable, I’m encouraging you to also shout out some of your goals. Say them out loud and let others hear them.

Take a risk in your relationship in the hopes that it shifts, changes, or reconnects you.  

Be bold enough to say it out loud and know that you’ll be just fine regardless.

We so got this!

-A

P.S. Do you have some big relationship or personal goals and are overwhelmed with how to get there and where to start? Reach out! Let’s head into this new year with a clear vision and clear plan how to get to those goals. That’s what I’m here for.