About a year ago, a co-worker said to me that she was going to walk the Susan G Komen 3Day Walk for Breast Cancer. I had heard of the walk & at that moment it sounded like a good idea. I thought the fundraising would be easy & the walk would be slow torture.
Mid-summer we started with 7 mile walks and the first time we walked it poured rain. THAT told me this whole experience was something I should have thought through more thoroughly. But we kept meeting every Saturday morning & walking farther & farther each week. A few months into it I received an email that someone was interested in joining our team. Needless to day, next week 3 of us were walking.
Starting about a month before the event we all agreed that this was a one-time deal. Walking 60 miles would be good once & we got to check something off our bucket list. We would mention it weekly that "thank goodness we all agree that we won't be doing this next year."
But that's all changed for me.
As it ended up, I walked 60 miles with the "stranger" (no longer). That stranger became a friend and a friend I value. As much as I missed my friend who couldn't walk last minute (& I hope she does next year), I enjoyed walking with my new friend. This event turned into an experience I took far more from than I gave. I gave my time & fundraising but what I got in return was FAR greater. This challenge was one of the biggest so far I had dedicated myself to & accomplished. And that's the key!
Funny thing is that I didn't really think through this thing to start. And while I was training it felt like the day would never come that we actually walked 60 miles. Then the week before I became completely nervous. I was almost in a panic over the thought of the challenge of the walk. Sure, there are 'sweep vans' that'll pick you up but the wasn't an option for me. If I dedicated myself to walk so far, I would....and I did.
The Monday after the walk I felt 10 feet tall with confidence. I felt like I could do anything I set my mind to. I have so much more confidence post-walk. I was transformed in those 3 days - nothing you could see - but I absolutely felt it. There's an extra something in the thread of my being now that tells me I can. That's why I absolutely recommend the walk to you!
I'll be walking next year - call me if you want to come too.
