Potential

Wow, what an amazing couple of months we've had at Girls on the Run of Jackson County. Things are really moving forward, and that can seem really scarey.

I remember after I first began inquiring about GOTR, asking national LOTS of questions. Bombarding them with e-mails. I wanted to be sure that this was something worth doing, something that was going to change lives. One morning, I was still on the fence, I still hadn't commited to filling out the application, but was seriously considering it, and then I freaked, for just a split second. "UH OH, what am I getting myself into?"

When I was in 5th grade, I tried out for the 6th grade singing group. This was a very big deal, and considering that I'm tone deaf, the chances were pretty slim that I'd actually make it. And there I was one morning thinking about what the day would bring - would I make the singing group or not. And in that moment I was thinking about what I might have gotten myself into. Live performances throughout the city - YIKES!!

It's funny to me how I can pin point many moments like that in my life. Those times when I took the risk, and then for a brief second thought, "Was that a mistake?" The thing I've learned about those moments are that they're just my fear. They're not really the truth. The truth is in doing those risks, I'm getting ready to experience great things.

As a kid, my mom used to tell me, you have a lot of potential, and even into my 20's my mom was still telling me that. "When you realize all of your potential, look out world." I read a book once that talked about that. When you're a kid, it's a compliment when someone tells you they see potential in you, but once you're an adult, you should be realizing that potential.

It's in those moments of self-doubt where I experience my potential becoming a reality. I have a choice at that time, STOP, or keep going. I'm sure there are lots of times I've stopped, but I have to say, the only ones I remember are the ones where I keep going. The 6th grade singing group, going to college, teaching second grade, getting fit, and bringing Girls on the Run to Jackson County. All of those things seemed overwhelming to me, all of those things seemed so far out of my reach and beyond what I was capable of, and yet all of those things I accomplished.

Did I have my doubts along the way? You bet. Was it hard? Definitely. But was it worth it? Without a doubt. I wouldn't change any of it. We're on the brink of big things with GOTR. We're looking at 4-5 sites in the inner-city alone next spring. We're making new connections and networking everyday. Does it scare me? Only for a moment. That one moment where I think, "Do I really want to do this? Can I handle the growth?" My answer, "YOU BET!!! Bring it on!"