Pearly Whites

I started blogging to share my life’s ups and downs with the world. Although I haven’t been the most consistent blogger, I try to make all of my posts meaningful and have something that you guys can take away with you. Plus, I am not the world’s best public speaker (ask my college coach and I bet you he will just laugh) so this is a good way for me to pass along my messages. 

Hornet Alumni

I recently received a phone call from my Alma mature asking me if I would come and speak to the Track and Field team about my experiences as a student-athlete.  At first I thought “what do they want me for? I don’t have anything great to share about my college career.” I don’t. I had a decent career, but nothing that anyone would be excited over. So I started to think about what I DID learn from being a college athlete. The first thing I thought: the 5k was definitely NEVER going to be my forte - and I mean NEVER. Not that I don’t enjoy a good 5K (it’s rare) but I will nine times out of 10 have my ass pummeled into the ground. Thank god for the longer distances, right!? Anyway, I reflected on my experiences and the time I got to spend at what has been the closest to a professional athlete that I have ever been. I thought about the lifelong friends I made, the experiences I had and the memories that can never be taken away. I also thought about the struggles I had. How I almost quit my junior year. How discouraged I got and how unhappy it all made me. I talked about this in an earlier post so I won’t bore you with the details again (you can check it out HERE if you really want to know! ☺ ) but I realized that the one piece of advice I wanted to get across to these younger athletes was to have as much fun as possible.  What I wouldn’t give to have that team atmosphere back in my life. Having been a collegiate athlete and now trying to continue my training as an “adult”, I realize how good I had it. My whole world revolved around running! I resented it a little back then because I felt like I was missing out on something when I would see my non-athlete friends going out and having a good time while I went to bed early for morning practice or eating chicken and broccoli instead of pizza and beer. Now, I would choose bed over doing almost anything and realized just how convenient that plain piece of chicken can be after a 5:00 am run and eight hours of work! 

I believe that every single person should truly enjoy what they are doing and if you aren’t happy, CHANGE SOMETHING. Make yourself happy. I don’t mean that to sound as if I am suggesting they quit the team, I am merely saying that life is too short to be miserable. I know it sounds cliché but if there is one thing my sister’s death taught me, it’s to do what you WANT to do and to do what makes you HAPPY- while you still have time above ground. Of course I mean that within good reason - don’t go murdering your ex’s new girlfriend just because it will make you happy! ;)

If you’re not smiling every day, you’re doing something wrong.