The first one

There are those who see you at your best and worst.  Who push you to do things that started as a thought in your mind.  They push you to run and finish the last four miles of your first half marathon.  They find you on the course at your first triathlon to make sure you are okay and to make sure you finish.  Those are your people.  But there's always the first one. 

My neighbor in apartments I lived in many years ago was the first one in the tribe.  As I sat with my coffee this morning, she crossed my mind.  She was the definition of a motivator.  She was the only one who seemed to keep up with me on my then walks.  She was the one who introduced and encouraged me to do intervals. And she was was right alongside.  

We conquered many things.  She was by my side when I finished my

first half marathon.  When I started to cry one the course, she would not have it.  I could cry at the finish is what she told me.  When the pace balloons got close to us, we ran until they were out of our sight.  But before we conquered the half marathon together, we finished our first trail race.  It helped we were served wine at the end.  Her voice was the one hollering when I stood in front of the crowd at Weight Watchers and reached goal.  

She saw me enjoy ice skating after losing 200 lbs. and laughed alongside when I was helped up by a Boy Scout.  She became the charter member of my tribe.   Because of her I realized many things about myself.  For instance, I became competitive with myself.  And after being stood up on a blind date, I walked so fast she dubbed it my "p*ssed off pace."  

It is weird how memories or people pop in the mind at times.  Without any warning.  I suddenly missed her this morning. The phrase "they are in your life for a reason" is thrown about and it's on everything from posters, quotes, and everything else.  I think she appeared in my life at the time she did for several reasons.  The main one to encourage me, never give up on me, and be my side kick.  

Maybe I missed her this morning because after the setbacks, I am returning to the person she helped uncover.  And while walking and running alone does offer solitude and reflection, I can be my own worst enemy.   She made sure we walked/ ran those miles in the afternoon.  We discovered new routes.   Because of her tenacity of making sure I did not give up, I accomplished so much.  

If you know of anyone who fits that bill and is willing to fill some big shoes, I welcome it.  But.....as always, they must be full of glitter! 

Christina